USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 43
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At a Council held at Philadia., Janr. 6th, 1730-1.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Governr. Anthony Palmer, Thos. Laurence, - Esq'rs.
Henry Brooke, Ralph Asheton. S
The GOVERNOR laid before the Board a Draught of a Speech he had prepared for the House of Representatives, now mett purst. to their Adjournment, & the same being read & approved the House was sent for, who attending accordingly, His Honour spoke to them as follows :
" Gentlemen :
" The Tranquility which this Province at present enjoys, & the " growing Unanimity amongst us, which has happily prevailed over " the past Feuds & Dissentions, are now so visible, that I cannot but " congratulate the Representative Body of this good People on a
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" prospect so delightfull in itself, so desireable by every good Man " who has a real & hearty Love for his Country, & which, as it must " give the highest Satisfaction to a Governor, cannot fail of being " equally agreeable to the Governed.
" Amongst the many valueable Privileges derived to this Colony " from our late Honble Proprietor, that of annual Elections is none " of the least, whereby frequent Opportunities are given to the Le- " gislature of inspecting & regulating our Publick Affairs, and as the " Persons chosen to that important Trust are supposed to be Men of " Virtue, Wisdom & Ability, so likewise from the Opportunities " they have in their respective Counties, of Knowing the State & "Condition of their Countrey, they cannot but when convened to- "gether & seriously disposed to promote the Publick Interest, be " very good Judges of those means by which our Happiness & Pros- " perity may be promoted ; And from hence it is Gent., that I think " it unnecessary at this time to mention to you such things, which " as they naturally fall under your Consideration in the Course of "your Proceedings, will no doubt be as seriously attended to as if " they had come particularly recommended from me.
" I must nevertheless Observe, that as it hath pleased God this " last year, to bless not only these parts of America with a very " plentifull Harvest, but also, as we hear, most of the Countries in " Europe, which of Course has putt a stop to their Demand for our "Produce, it therefore naturally follows that our own Provisions " must be low. We ought however, as plenty of the Fruits of the " Earth has ever been held one of the greatest Blessings of Heaven, " not only to acquiesce but be'humbly thankfull for our present Afflu- " ence, yet as many may by this means be pinched by a Stagnation " of the Currency, which even ensues in all Countries where their " Produce is not in Demand, it may at this time be incumbent on us " to think of all possible Measures to recommend our Manufacture "to a greater Degree abroad, that when at Market they may find a " readier Sale.
" I have understood that when this Colony was young & had but "little Experience, it exceeded all its Neighbours in the Fineness of " its Flour & Bread, & Goodness of its Beer, which are the only " Produce of our Grain ; the Regulations which have already been " made in the two first have greatly contributed to their Improve- " ment as well as the Reputation of the Province, & it will still be- " come the Legislature to continue their Care & Concern in a Point " of such Consequence to the whole Country. But the Abuses in " the last are so gross that you cannot but be all sensible of the Re- " proach Brought upon us, when you hear how we have of late been " Supplied by a neighbouring Colony, & therefore I need say little " to excite your most vigorous Resolutions to apply a proper Reme- "dy, which in my opinion may very easily be found.
" And if, besides such Measures as may render the Produce of " our Grain more valueable & consequently bring it more into De- " mand, Encouragement were given to raise such Commodities that " might have a constant & ready vent in Britain, & thereby help
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" to make Returns, it would certainly be of vast advantage to the " Publick.
" In my Speech to the first Assembly chosen after my Arrival, I " mentioned Iron, Hemp & Silk ; in the first of these divers pro- " ceeded with Vigour, till the vast Quantities unexpectedly imported " into Britain from the new Works in Russia, where the poor People " labour almost for nothing, have given some Damp to that Manufac- " ture. But as Silk comes from Countries long settled & accustomed " to the Business, where their Prices cannot much alter, and as no " Climate in the World is found to agree better with the Silkworm " than this, since it is impossible that as the Inhabitants encrease " the raising of Grain should always turn to Account for Exporta- " tion, nothing in my Judgement can be more worthy of our Appli- " cation than to excite the People to the planting of Mulberry Trees, " & furnishing themselves with Silk Worm, since it is a Work of " which the poorest & feeblest are capable, & Children who can be " of little other Service, may here find an Employment suitable to " their Years. As the Business is new, People will naturally be " backward in falling into the Practice, but if we consider that all " Manufactures were so at first, that the West Indies were for some " time settled before they thought of raising Sugar, from whence " they now make vast Estates, we should not be discouraged, for all " things of this kind require only Resolution in the beginning, at " which most things appear difficult that afterwards become easie & " familiar. I therefore recommend it to you Gentlemen, to think of " some suitable Encouragement that may prompt the Inhabitants to " proper Endeavours on their parts, & I shall use mine to procure " Persons of Skill to lead them into a Way of finishing their Labours " to Advantage : The raising of Hemp & dressing it by water-rating " the only Method we find for rendring it truly usefull, has already " its Encouragemt, & 'tis hoped in time this also may be applied to " make Returns.
" These are the Points I shall now recommend to you, in which " as I have nothing in View but the true Interest & Honour of the " Province & of every Subject under my Care, I cannot doubt your " ready Concurrence. This Disposition will naturally lead you to " Unanimity & Dispatch, the only means of giving Success to all our " Counsels, and of a happy & speedy Issue to the Session, which " that we may attain, with sincere Expressions & real Proofs of " Loyalty to His Majesty, Fidelity to our Honble. Proprietors, & " with the Increase of Love and Good will amongst all our Inha- " bitants, is the highest of my present Wishes."
A Copy of the foregoing Speech being given to the Speaker the House withdrew.
JANUARY 9th, 1730-1.
A Petition of Several Germans praying to be naturalized having been presented to the Governor, His Honr. after a proper Enquiry into their Characters, & by the Advice of some Gentlemen of his Council, sent the following Message in Writing to the House :
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" Gentlemen :
" A Petition having been presented to me in behalf of several " Germans now inhabiting this Province, a List of whose Names is "hereunto annexed, praying that they may enjoy the Rights & " Privileges of English Subjects, I have made Enquiry into their " Characters, & find they have behaved themselves so well during " their Residence amongst us, that I have no Objection to their re- " ceiving this Mark of Favour from the Legislature of Pensylvania. " It likewise appears by proper Certificates produced to me, that they " have taken & subscribed the Qualifications by Law directed, & " therefore I hope your House will concur with me in passing a Bill " for their Naturalization."
P. GORDON.
At a Council held at Philadia, Janr. 29th, 1730-1.
PRESENT :
The honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr.
James Logan,
Clement Plumstead,
Isaac Norris,
Thomas Laurence,
Anthony Palmer,
Ralph Asheton,
1 Esq'rs.
Henry Brooke,
Samuel Hasell.
The four following Bills sent up from the House of Representa- tives were this day read, vizt :
1. AN ACT for Re-emitting & continuing the Currency of such Bills of Credit of this Province as by former Acts are directed to be sunk & destroyed. Touching which Bill the Governor expressed himself to this Purpose.
That he could not but with great Uneasiness reflect on the Obsti- nate Conduct of some Members of the House, who on passing the last Act for emitting Thirty thousand pounds in Paper Curr'y. re- jected a Proposal then made to that House, wch if accepted, would have rendred the present Bill unnecessary, & thereby saved a con- siderable Publick Expence ; That however agreeable it might be to the Inclinations of the People in General, to have the Re-Emission intended by this Bill, yet there was no small Danger to be appre- hended even to the whole of our Currency, by multiplying Acts of this Nature, against which so great Prejudices are entertained at home. And therefore, tho' the Board should advise him to pass the Bill, yet that he could not be so far wanting in his Duty to the Pub- lick as not to acquaint the House with the Hazard to which the same might be exposed, and the Vast Inconveniencies which would ensue upon a Repeal. And this His Honr. said he proposed to do by a written Message, & would likewise lay hold of this Opportunity to mention the Necessity of appointing an Agent for our public affairs in Brittain.
The Board maturely weighing what the Governour had said & applauding the Concern he showed for the Publick Interest, unani- mously approved of the proposed Message, but were alike unanimous
1
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in their Opinion that the Re-Emission would be extremely beneficial to the Province, & might during its Term prevent the Necessity for any further provision for a Currency.
Upon which the Bill was again read & Considered, & several Amendments being made thereto, were drawn up & Ordered to be' sent down with the same.
2. AN ACT for enabling Religious Societies of Protestants within this Province to purchase Lands for burying-grounds, Churches, Houses for Worship, Schools, &c., Touching which Bill a Petition of the Church Wardens of Christ Church of Philadelphia in behalf of themselves & the rest of the Congregation, being putt into the Clerk's hands, was by him presented to the Board & read, setting forth that the said Bill as the Petitioners conceive, tends to injure the Rights which certain Members of the said Church had in & to a Lott & Building formerly called the Keithian Meeting house, praying that a Clause may be inserted, Saving to the Members of the said Church their just Right to the said Lott & Building.
Upon considering the Bill it appeared that a sufficient saving Clause was therein contained, the Intention of the said Bill appear- ing to be just and equitable, the same was unanimously agreed to, & Ordered to be sent down with a small Amendment.
3. AN ACT for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Pro- vince of Pensylvania to hold Lands, and to invest them with the Privileges of natural born Subjects of the said Province. &
4. AN ACT for the Relief of Benjamin Mayne, with Respect to the Imprisonment of his Person.
A small Amendment to each of these was likewise made, & Or- dered to be delivered to the House with the Bills.
-A Petition of the Magistrates, Grand Jury, & other Inhabitants of the County of Lancaster, was presented to the Board & read, setting forth that not having the Conveniency of any navigable water, for bringing the Produce of their Labours to Philadelphia, they are obliged at a great Expence to transport them by Land Carriage, which Burthen becomes heavier thro' the Want of suitable Roads for Carriages to pass. That there are no public Roads leading to Philadelphia yet laid out thro' their County, and those in Chester County, thro' which they now pass, are in many places incommo- dious. And therefore praying that proper Persons may be appointed to view & lay out a Road for the Publick Service, from the Town of Lancaster till it falls in with the high Road in the County of Chester, leading to the Ferry of Schuylkill at high street, & that a Review may be had of the said Publick Road in the County of Chester ; The prayer of which Petition being granted,
IT IS ORDERED that Thomas Edwards, Edward Smout, Ro- bert Barber, Hans Graaf, Caleb Peirce, Samuel Jones & Andrew Cornish of the County of Lancaster, or any five of them, view & lay out by Course & Distance, a convenient high Road from the said Town of Lancaster to the Division Line between the Counties of Chester & Lancaster ; And that Thomas Green, George Ashton,
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William Paschal, Richard Buffington, William March, Samuel Mil- ler & Robert Parke of the County of Chester, or any five of them, do then joyn the above named Persons of Lancaster County, or any five of them, in continuing to lay out as aforesaid, the said Road from the Division Line aforesaid, till it falls in with the King's high Road in the County of Chester, leading to Philadia., & make Return thereof to this Board. And they the above named Persons of the County of Lancaster, or any five of them, together with the above named Persons of the County of Chester, or any five of them, are further Impowered jointly to review the said high Road within the last mentioned County, & to Report to this Board what Alterations may be necessary to be made therein, to suit the Conveniency of Carriages, and for the better Accommodation of the Inhabitants of this Province.
February 2d, 1730-1.
A Bill Entituled AN ACT to disable William Fishbourn from holding any Office of Trust or Profit within this Province, & to se- cure the Payment of a Provincial Debt due from the said William Fishbourn having been sent up from the House, the Clerk of the Council was Directed to give Mr. Fishbourn Notice in writing, (which he did accordingly on the 1st. currt.,) that the same would be this day considered in Council, where he would be heard in his own De- fence if he thought fitt to attend.
The Governor likewise sent a verbal Message to the House to this Effect:
That His Honour having the Bill for disabling Mr. Fishbourn, now under Consideration, and the same being of an extraordinary Nature & Tendency, tho' he is well perswaded the House would not have passed it without being fully convinced that the Facts therein alledged are true, He desires the Gentlemen of the Committee ap- pointed to manage the Charge against Mr. Fishbourn, may be ordered to attend His Honr. at the Council Board with the said Charge, Mr. Fishbourn's Answer thereto, & the Evidences & Vouchers that sup- port the same.
EODEM DIE.
A Council was held at Philadia.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Governr.
Samuel Preston,
Clement Plumsted,
Anthony Palmer,
Henry Brooke,
Ralph Asheton, Esq'rs. The Bill Entituled
Samuel Hasell.
AN ACT to disable William Fishbourn from holding any Office of Trust or Profit within this Province, & to secure the Payment of a Provincial Debt due from the said William Fishbourn, was read,
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And the Governor acquainted the Board that at his Desire the Managers for the House were attending to support the Charge against Mr. Fishbourn, to whom likewise Notice had been given to appear before this Board in his own Defence if he thought proper. The said Managers were called in, & Mr. Fishbourn appeared pur- suant to the Notice given him.
The Managers proceeded to open the Charge against Mr. Fish- bourn, and to support the same with several Papers & Accounts ; after which Mr. Fishbourn was fully heard, & then they were directed to withdraw.
The said Bill being again read, & the Board having Maturely considered the Charge with Mr. Fishbourn's Defence thereunto, The Question was putt and RESOLVED in the Affirmative,
That William Fishbourn hath been guilty of fraudulent & most unjustifiable Practices, in the Execution of his Office as a late Trus- tee of the Genl. Loan Office of Pennsylvania.
And the Bill being agreed to, was ordered to be returned to the House without Amendment.
Then was read a Bill Entituled,
AN ACT for the better Prevention of Accidents that may hap- pen by Fire in the City of Philadia., by Bake houses & Cooper's Shops.
To which some Amendments were made & ordered to be sent down with the Bill.
-
FEBRUARY 3d, 1830-1.
The Bill for Re-Emitting & continuing the Currency of such Bills of Credit of this Province as by former Acts are directed to be sunk & destroyed, was this day returned to the House with the Amendments proposed in Council & the following Message from the Governor :
" Gentlemen :
" I have perused & considered the Bill for re-emitting & continu- "ing the Currency of such Bills of Credit of this Province as by " former Acts are directed to be sunk & destroyed, and for striking "Forty thousand pounds more in new Bills to exchange the old ; " And I cannot hereupon but with great Uneasiness reflect upon the " most unjustifiable Conduct of those who, when the last Emission " was under the Consideration of the House that made the Act for " it, so obstinately opposed that well judged Proposal, to issue one " entire new sett of Bills sufficient for our Currency, to be continued " for a Term by Re-Emission ; for such a Provision would have ab- " solutely prevented the Occasion the House now finds for this new " Bill, & thereby have saved much Time to the Legislature, with a " great Expense of money to the Publick, besides the vast Incon- " veniences & Hazards to which we expose ourselves and our whole " Currency, by multiplying Acts of this kind where there might " have been no manner of Occasion.
" For surely Gentlemen, the weakest amongst us cannot but be
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" sensible that while every Act of ours is subject to a Repeal, when- " ever by Advice of His Ministry, His Majesty shall think fitt to " order it, While the Caution given us by the Board of Trade of the "11th of May, 1726, formerly communicated to the Assembly, is " so express agst. enlarging our Currency, while not only a Prejudice " universally obtains amongst the Merchants in Britain against it, " but we find His Majesty from time to time requiring His Gover- " nors to pass no Act for Establishing it that shall be in Force till " it obtains the Royal Sanction, of which the late Proceedings in " New Jersey are one Instance, & our News Papers have furnished " us with others. When all this is considered I say, none can be so " blind as not to see the great Risque we run by multiplying such " Acts without Necessity, since we thereby endanger our whole Cur- " rency.
" However, as this Bill seems calculated only to answer the In- " tention of the former much better timed Proposal, & as it may " fully answer all the Exigencies of the Country, & prevent during "its Term, the Necessity of any further Provision for a Currency, "I shall venture to pass it with small Amendments.
"But as by its being a new Bill it may still subject us to yet " greater Difficulties in Britain, I must now take this Opportunity " to insist on your making a due Provision for furnishing ourselves " with an able Agent in London, who may cordially & sincerely "negotiate such Bills, together with our other Business at the seve- "ral Boards, since you cannot but be sensible that the Persons to " whom they have of late been sent, however worthy in other Re- " spects is in this Case absolutely improper, as being wholly disaf- " fected to the Currency in general, nor if otherwise inclined would " his great Affairs allow of his Attendance. Not only the Advan- " tages but the Necessity of such an Agent are manifest ; for a suit- " able Encouragement to such a Person would induce him to devote a " part of his time to the Study of our Constitution, the Circumstan- " ces of the Province & its Trade, and as a Man of Penetration " would soon make himself Master of these Points, he would not " fail on all Occasions of doing us eminent Service. By one thus " qualified better than by many written Representations, might those " Impressions which have been received to the Disadvantage of our "Currency be removed, the particular Laws framed for our Con- " veniency would be easily and naturally explained to those who are " to judge of them, & nothing would then be transacted at any of " the Publick Offices relating to us, of which we might expect early " Notice ; And a moderate yearly Sum laid out in this way might on " some Occasions save a very considerable Publick Expence. I am " led to press this the more closely, from some late endeavours that "have been used to obtain a Repeal of the Law for establishing "Courts of Judicature, passed since my Accession to this Govern- " ment, which had it been obtained would have occasioned great "Confusion in the Publick Administration. And as the matter is "still depending before the Lords of Trade, it will become us to " take all suitable Measures to prevent a Design of this Nature ; 17*
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" And seeing all our neighbouring Governments carefully provide "proper Agents to appear for them & manage their affairs, & our "own Assemblies as I am informed, have formerly voted the same, " I hope therefore a House of Representatives that I am perswaded " has the true Interest of the Province as fully at heart as any that " has hitherto been convened, will no longer delay so important a " Provision.
" Upon considering the Bill in Council one observation has been " made which will deserve your Notice, & this is that the striking so " large a Sum as Forty thousand Pounds to exchange torn or ragged " Bills may be attended with several Inconveniences, unless it is pro- " posed to exchange all the Bills now current by the two first Acts. " If that is intended, the Bill as it now stands does not seem to ex- " press it clearly, nor to direct that those Bills of Credit shall not be "again issued, which it is conceived ought to be done in full and " distinct terms."
P. GORDON.
FEBRUARY 4th, 1730-1.
The House this day by a Message, acquainted His Honr. that they had agreed to the Amendments proposed to the Re-Emitting Bill, And that in Pursuance of His Honour's Message of yesterday, they had appointed Ferdinand John Paris, Esquire, Agent for this Prov- ince, & had voted him a yearly Salary of Fifty Pounds Sterling for that Service.
The Governor desired the members who brought up this Message, to lett the House know that he very much approved of the Choice they had made.
FEBRUARY 6th.
The Governor sent down the following Message to the House : " Gentlemen :
" The Death of that worthy Gentleman Mr. Hill, & the Indispo- " sition of Mr. Lloyd, which renders him unfitt to attend the Pub- "Service, has occasioned two Vacancies in the Commission of the " Supreme Court by our Constitution established, And tho' I have " used all proper Endeavors to gett them supplied, yet I find so great " Difficulty in prevailing with Men of Knowledge & Abilities to un- " dertake those Offices, that I am obliged to acquaint you therewith, " lest this Failure should be laid at my Door.
" Upon the late repeated Application from the Several Counties " of this Province for the Trial of Criminals then in Goal, I was "obliged to direct special Commissions of Oyer and Terminer & "Goal Delivery to three Gentlemen, who at my Earnest Request " were perswaded to perform that Service, which ought to be ac- " knowledged by the Publick; And as Prosecutions of that Nature " are greatly multiplied amongst us, & several Complaints are daily " made, by Persons who cither stand in need of Remedial Writts
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" properly issued out of that Court, or whose Suits are removed " thither & there remain undecided to their great Loss, It appears " highly necessary that an Appointment should speedily be made of " proper Persons for Judges of that Court, that the End of its Es- " tablishment may be answered. But in Order to do this, as much " as may be to the general Satisfaction of all the Country, I must " desire you to consider of & resolve upon such allowances to the " Persons so appointed, as may be some Inducement to Men of Ca- " pacity to accept of those Offices, otherwise it will not be in my " Power to remedy the Inconveniences which the Publick now sus- " tains thro' the Want of them; And this I recommend to your se- " rious Consideration."
P. GORDON.
In answer to which Message the Governour received the same day a Resolve of the House in these Terms, vizt :
" That the Governour may with safety depend on the Honour of " the House, that when he shall supply the Vacancies in the Su- " preme Commission, the House will allow any adequate Salary to " Gentlemen who shall be appointed to that Trust."
EODEM DIE.
At a Council held at Philadia.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr.
James Logan,
Thomas Laurence, r
Henry Brooke,
Ralph Assheton. Esq'rs. 1
Clemt. Plumsted,
THE GOVERNOR acquainted the Board that the House had agreed to all the Amendments proposed to the several Bills which had been considered in Council at their two last meetings.
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