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Show [39] [33] and Statutes of this our Realm of England." and eiiablifhed Rule of Legiflation, to which the Laws to be made in the feveral Colonies were to The fame Claui‘e was afterwards copied into the be as nearly as conveniently might be, conforma- Charter of this and other Colonies, with certain ble or {imilar ; mirth was the true Intent andIm» ort of the Words, " not repugnant to the Laws of England," " confimant to Reafon," and other variant Expreflions in the ditTerent Charters. And We would add, that the King in forne of the ways that the "me be not contrary to the Laws Variations, fuch as that thefc Laws fltould be ". confonant to Realbni" " not repugnant to the Laws of England," " as nearly as conveniently may be to the Laws, Statutes and Rights of Eng. land." &c. Thele Modes of Expreflion convey Charters refervcs the Right to judge of the Con- the firmeMeaning, and ferve to {how an Intention that the Laws of the Colonies {hould be as much fonance and Similarity of their Laws with the as poflible, conformant in the Spirit of them to Parliament ; and inConfequence thereof to affirm, the Principles and fundamental Laws of the Eng- or within a limited Time, difallow them. Englilh Confiitution to hitnfelfl and not to the lithonfiitution, its Rights and Statutes then in Being; and by no Means to bind the Colonies to a Subieélion to the Supreme Authority of the Englifh Parliament. And that this is the true Intention, we think it further evident from this Confideration, that no Aé‘ts of any Colony Legi~ Thele Charters, as well as that afterwards granted to Lord Baltimore, and other Charters, are repugnant to the Idea of Parliamentary Authority : And to flippofe a Parliamentary Authority over the Colonies under fitch Charters,would flattve, are ever brought into Parliament for In.fpee‘tion there, though the Laws made in fume of them, like the A83 of" the Britifh Parliament are laid before the King for his Affent or Difalloww rican Territory by {itch Charters, together with ance. the Silence of the Nation thereupon, is an Evi- neceflarily induce that Solecilin in Politics Imp" rium in Imperz'o. And the King's repeatedly ex~ ercifingthe Prerogative ofdifpoliug ofthe Ame- deuce that it was an acknowledged Prerogative. . We have brought the firfl American Charters into VICW, and the State of the Country when Times vef'red folely in the Crt')wn--that the feve- But Further to {how the Senfe of the Englilh Crown and Nation that the American Colonifis and our Predecefliirs in particular, when they firft took Pollizllion of this Country by a Grant and ral Charters conveyed to tlieGrantces,who {hould Charter from the Crown, did not remain fubjefl' fettle upon the Territories ther ein ttranted, to the Supreme Authority of'VParliament, we beg they were granted, to {how that the Right of difofing or" the Lands was in the Opinion of thole all thePowers necel'liiry to conflitutc the-i n free and Leave to obferve ; that when a Bill was oflercd dilltné'i States-and that the fundamental laws by the tth Honfes ofParliament to King Charles 0f the Er‘glilh Conflitution mould be the cumin the Fjrfl, granting to the Subjeéts of Englandfthe ree and |
