Volume 25, Page 269 View pdf image (33K) |
Papers Relating to Affairs in Maryland, 1701-14. 269
declare that this province was favourably created by King P. R. O. Charles the 1rst as an Asylum for them, which indeede it might be could they be contented, and not continually give Occasion of Scandall and Offence to the Government by the illegall practices of their priests and the Vain Malicious lyes they dayly invent, and disperse, to lessen the Glory of her Matys, and her Confederates happy Successes. The Second (which I have heretofore layd before your honble Board) rendring this province more unfortunate than any other of Matys Plantations, by imposeing so Great an hardship on her Matys free Subjects of Greate Brittaine, and other her Dominions, that they shall not be capable of having or enjoying any Office or Trust in this Government untill they have resided here three full years. This discourages all ingenious men to seek their fortunes in Maryland: And in the Space of fourteen years, there are scarce fourteen men who have undergone that tedious Disability So that the Natives who are ignorant, and raw in busieness, and naturally proude, and obstinate, are not only the Representatives in Assembly, but the Iustices of the County Courts: and by the name of Country borne, distinguish themselves from the rest of her Matys Subjects, and run into great heats and divisions, which may be of ill Consequence; for as they know little of the laws and good Manners they practice less. Thirdly many of the County Court Justices for many years last past, having been on return'd as Delegates to the Generall Assembly, on all Occasions have sought to corroborate and establish their Iurisdiction, by severall Acts of Assembly made of late Years, that they allmost believe themselves indepen dent of the Queens Governour, and were I to change them for others, there is so little Choice, the remedie might be worse than the disease. These Iustices especially if they are dealers, which everybody here are, that have anything before-hand, not only countenance their Customers, but too often favour One the Other, and would have all things under their Juris diction and Administration, tho' they are never so meanly quali- fled for the Trust; And therefore though with their tongues, when Seperate, they applaude the new Institution of the Itin erant Iustices; yet when any of them are in the House of Dele gates, they leave no Stone unturn'd to render it precarious, and abortive by refusing the Settlement of a competent Sal lary, to enable the four Provinciall Iustices to performe their Duty, and by severall other crafty Evasions looking upon their Honour and Grandeur to be highly eclipsed & impaird by the Provinciall Justices comeing to hold the Assizes, and before the Appearance of their full Countys, giving handsome, and regular Charges to the Grand Iurys of Inquest, thereby
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Volume 25, Page 269 View pdf image (33K) |
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