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Show 388 Rc/Iort of 1/56 Committee of [P. P.] Ff/fl, By the royal charter, (which has ever been, ought to be, and truly is, the principal and invariable fundamental of this conilitution) King Charles the Sccord did give and grant unto \Villiam Penn, his heirs and ailigns, the province of‘Peniylvania; and alto to him and his heirs, and his or their r/iyim'z'i": or lieutenants, free, full, and abiblute power for the good ant; happy government thereof, to make and enact any laws, " according to their belt difcretion ; by and with ‘ the advice, ai'Tent, and approbation of the fires‘ mm of the faid country, or of their delegates Aggrievances gf Pew/[12472121. 389 facred fundamental of all our rights and liberties ; have to abridged and rcftric‘ted their late and prefent governor} difcrction in matters of legiflation, by their illegal, impracticable, and unconftitutional inftruétions and prohibitions; that no bill for granting aids and {applies to our molt gracious fovercign, (be it ever {0 rcztlonalile, expedient, and necefllu'y for the defence of this his Majefty's colony, and faiety of his people,) unlcis it be agree- able thereto, can meet with his approbation: bv means whereof the many confiderable fums 6f money which have been oficered for thofe purpofes, " or deputies 5" for the raiiing of money, or any by the aiTemblies of this province (ever anxious other end appertaining to the public flare, peace or iafety ofthe faid country. -b'y the words of this grant, it is evident that full powers are granted to to maintain his honour and rights,) have been re- jected, to the great encouragement ofhisMajefty's the dapulz'er and lieutenants of William Penn and this his colony. enemies, and the imminent danger of the lots of his heirs, to concur with the people in framing laws for their protection and the {atety oftbe province, according to their belt difcretion; independent of any initrué‘tions or directions they fliould receive from their principals. And it is equally obvious to your committee, that the people of this province and their reprefentatives were interefted in this royal grant; and by virtue thereof have an original right of legiflation inherent in» them; which neither the proprietors nor any other perfon whatfoever can diVCflZ them of, refirain, or abridge ; without manifeftly violating and de- itroying the letter, fpirit, and defign of this grant. Neverthelel‘s we unfortunately find, that thfl proprietaries of this province, regardlefs of this facred Second] , The repref'entatives of the people in general aITembly met, by virtue of the {aid royal grant, and the charter of privileges granted by the laid William Penn, and a law of this province; have right to, and ought to enjoy all the powers and privileges of an affembly; according to the rights of the free-born fubjeé'ts of England, and as is ufual in any ofthe plantations in America : {Alto} it is an indubitable and now an incontef'ted right of the commons of England to grant aid: and fupplies to his Majefty in any manner they think molt eafy to themlelves and the people; and they {alto}l are the {ole judges of the mezflln), 7mmmr and time of granting and raifing the fame. Never»- |
