Page:An Answer to the Declaration of the American Congress.djvu/19

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

( 14 )

ARTICLE I.

take effect, have any operation, till the royal aſſent was obtained? So far is this from being the caſe, that in every Colony, there is a complete Colonial Legiſlature on the ſpot. In the Royal Governments, this Legiſlature conſiſts of his Majeſty's Governor, the Council, and Houſe of Aſſembly, or Repreſentatives. By his commiſſion under the Great Seal, the Governor is authoriſed to give the Royal Aſſent to Bills preſented to him by the Council and Aſſembly. From the moment of their receiving that aſſent, theſe Bills become laws, have all the force and effect of laws. In this reſpect the Colonies have an advantage over Ireland. There a ſpecial commiſſion is required to empower the Lord Lieutenant to give the Royal Aſſent to each ſpecific Bill.

The King retains the power of diſallowing their laws.But this power of aſſenting to laws not yet framed, is of the moſt ſacred nature; too high to be intruſted to the diſcretion of any ſubject without ſome controul. The King, therefore, retains the power of diſallowing all laws to which the Governor may have aſſented, and thereby voiding the Act, if it be found to be inconſiſtent with the tenor of his inſtructions, the good of the particular province, or the welfare of the empire at large. In the Colony of Maſſachuſet's Bay, this diſallowance muſt be ſignified within three years; in that of Penſylvania, within ſix months from the time that the law is preſented to the King in Council. In all the others without limitation of time.

Power exerciſed by all the King's predeceſſors.

This power is exerciſed by the King in Council; it has been exerciſed by all his predeceſſors, from the firſt eſtabliſhment of the Colonies; it is expreſsly reſerved in all the Charters and Commiſſions which
conſtitute