even to the consciences, of those concern'd in the doing of it ; & I hope my not Assenting to Laws I am not Irnpowered to Assent unto will not be call'd a fault ; but on the contrary, a Strict adherence to do my Duty which by Gods assistance, nothing shall intimidate me from doing.
There is nothing more common in the mouths of the populace than, Saying give us good laws, and we will Support the Government and what they call good laws, are such only as they like ; and Agreeable to this they are made to believe, that if the Governor doth not Assent to such Laws as are Off'red for his Assent, the Assembly are Justifiable in not raising a Support for his Majesty's Government ; tho' he is forbid to Assent to those Laws : as in the Cases before mentioned ; or tho' the Governr himself very much disapproves of them ; which (notwithstanding the Attempts of your Honourable House with respect to the bills of Credit made in the year 1724) I hope no body will presume to say, he has not a right to do.
The Assent to Laws we have a power to make ought to be free, and not compell'd in any part of the Legislature, and I believe you would think so your selves, were there any Attempts made to compell your Assent to any Law propos'd by the Council, Yet I may ask with what view those Strong Endeavours were made in your House, to annex a fee bill to the bill for Support of the Government, (a bill to which you would never suffer an Amendment to be made) unless it was to Compell the Governor and Council, to pass that fee bill, in such manner as your Honourable House should pass it without any Amendment?
It is true the attempt did not succeed; and I thank you for what is done but believe most People will think it had been more for the interest of the Publick, if it had been made for a longer time ; and it may not be unworthy your Notice to Observe, that this fee bill tho not Intitled An Act to Inforce Obedience to an Ordinance made for Establishing fees & yet whatever title you will please to give it, if it be of the same nature of that which was twice repeal'd, for reasons I need not repeat, it will not be difficult to Say what will be the Success of it or the Sentiments of his Majesty's Ministers concerning it.
Your Bill for making lands Chattels, doth not with any certainty Express what Estate the Purchaser from the Sherriff shall be Vested wth whether in fee or for Life : or years; & for that reason I shall referr it to farther consideration.
Your Bill for paying the Expenses that may arise on Printing Signing &ca the Sum of ₤40,000, I am told was intended should be pass'd in a
