Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/207

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1763
PRESIDENCY OF BOARD OF TRADE
181

was almost exactly the same as in Connecticut, but there was a proviso of doubtful import at the close of the charter, by which, in all controversies "of a public nature," the appeal was to be to the King and his successors.

In Pennsylvania, the proprietary or his deputy whom he appointed conjointly with the Crown, could under the charter enact laws for raising money and other purposes of Government, to be made with the advice of the representatives of the freemen of the province assembled for that purpose. The laws were not to be repugnant to those of the mother-country. The Governor appointed all Judges and other officers, but the charter saved and reserved to His Majesty the hearing and determining of the appeals of all persons belonging to Pennsylvania. The charter also provided an adequate machinery for the disallowance of illegal Acts, and specially reserved such impositions and Customs as by Act of Parliament should be appointed from the powers of commercial legislation which it granted. In Massachusetts the Governor was appointed by the Crown, but the Council was elected by the Assembly itself elected by the freeholders. The Governor, with the advice of his Council, appointed the Judges who held during good behaviour. An appeal lay to the King in Council whenever the matter in issue was above £3000 value. The laws passed by the Assembly were not to be repugnant to those of England. The Assembly appointed all the civil officers except the Judges, and had power to impose taxes, which were to be issued and disposed of by warrant under the hand of the Governor with the advice and consent of the Council. The Governor had a negative on all legislation. All laws were to be transmitted home, and if not disallowed within three years, were to remain in force. The jurisdiction of the English Admiralty Court was expressly reserved by the charter.

In all the colonies, the Governor had power to prorogue and dissolve the Assemblies, but the time of their meeting and the duration of their sittings were in every case ascertained. The right of taxation was