OCR Text |
Show 152 Ae'rs RELATING Part II. ' seam. TO THE COLONIES. 153 Before we enter upon it, it may be proper to premife, that the interpretation we are might be interpreted, as extending only in feat-ch of for this claufe, is the inter- Englii'h fubjccls, namely, the right of pretation that according to probability was put upon it by the contracting parties, of whatever nature might have been the propofitions allumed in that interpreta- laying certain taxes without the concurrence ofthe other ellatcs. ‘ tion, whether true or falfe: as to this to the right which he claimed over his But it is likewile beyond a doubt, that Charles confidered the colonies as entirely fubjeets to his/[Hg]; authority, and not ' matter, it is probable, that between the to that of the other eftatcs; whom he {up- fentimerts of the fovereign and the noble favourite there was no great dif- ference. The favourite, we have obferv- pofed to have no more right of making laws to bind them, than they now have of making laws to bind Hanover. This opinion James I. had exprcfly avowed in a letter to Cd, was a Roman catholic, a difciple of that feet, whofe prejudices run the ftrongefl in favour of the power of the crown. Charles at this time unqucfiionably underflood himfelf to be in pollcflion Of the right of levying cermz‘zz taxes by his/ole the houfe " It {hould fecm therefore pro- authority, without the concurrence of the tor and inhabitants of Maryland, a lull two other eflates, upon his Eng/{77) {ubjects. If he confidered the colonies as {landing to him in the fame relation as his Englifli fubjeé'ts, then this renunciation i might fecurity againft taxation by (my power in England. bable, that in granting this charter Charles coriiitlcrctl the colonies as fianding to him in this relation. And if fo, it mull, I think follow, that the covenant was mcmzt and ztrzrz'utfloaa', to convey to the proprie- _* Vide infra, Sea. VII. This |