The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-07-16

the tuppOIt OF inc AJoNSiHoi % "
teria and important part.
That the Great and General Court or
AlItmbiy of the province is by the charter
vefted with the executive right OF judging
what is an adequate fupport for his Mae
MS Governments of this province, and OF
determining in what way and manner pro
WHOM for that purpoie ihall be made APP
pear not only from the natural and OBVIOUS
ienfe and meaning of the words and terms
of the charter, but from the conifant ana
uninterrupted ufage and practice upon tnat
charter, for more than eighty years from
tie time when it was granted.
That the fupport of the Governor is part
of the fuppor OF the government OF the p'o-
vince. NOT ONLY has been the conttant ienie
of the General AGenblies of this provinces
but it ALTO appears from the act OF the bfi-
tifh parliament referred TO IN hisExcellency
MeGioe. and his Majcfy's determination
thereon For in the M.0lge his Excellen-
CIV informs the Houfe, that he had obleiVed
in his aniwer to aMeHaee ofa formerHouie,
50 tha, his MaieRy had been enabled by an
aa of parliament to make certain and adc-
ouate proviiion for the iupport OF aO'I 60
zyyuufut in the colonies :" And in thisMcf
face he declares, that che is able to acqualnt
the Houfe that hi, Majehy has been gracl-
oun, peaied to make p!oviiion for bis (up-
port in the Ratisn in which ne has thought
f. to place him )" by which mis- Exceilency
cannot be ndelitood to intend any other
than his ffation as GovrnOr OF this province.
And bv the connection of the irveral parts
of the MsHage. it is mott plainly to be in
ferred. ina, his Excelencv would acquant
the Houfe, that his M4jeay had made that
prov,lion. in cohitqusnce OF, and by the
power yefted in, HIM bv an act of Parlia-
ment. which enabled him to make proWilon
for the (upport of the fiviI gsO'rnn1fnt OF the
colonies. So that unleis IT ihould be fuPpo-
fed that his Majsify bimieit hath m'ttaken
the true lsnle o. the aef, it is evidently the
opinion of the BritiEh parliament, that the
fuppor, of Governor is part of the fuPPort
of the government of colony.
That the power and authority of provid-
ing for the fupport Of the Governor lb0Eid
be vefted in the General Afitmbly,ls necef-
fary, TO preferve the freedom of the confti-
futon For, If the King who has the abb
foiute pouer of appointing and commiiion-
atine he Governor, fhall alfe have the pow
er OF Judging and determining what ihall be
a reaionable and adequate fuppoft for him,
and of the ways and means OF making pro-
vifion tor that purpole, there remains no
check at all upon the power devolved by
charter on the crown And q power with
out check, is 70 far forth destructive OF
the freedom OF the contribution.
Moreover, this is mott dangerous limo
vstion. as il sfFords precedent for future
more exteniive evil of the fame KIND For
with equal realon may the crown take and
exefclle the power OF Judging and detsrmin-
in, what lhail be an adequate iupport for
svery Orb1 part OF civil government, and the
wsys and means of making pEcviiion there
for which would take away the freedom
of the contribution, and eRabiiih arbitrary
government within the province.
Although it may not be affirmed, that the
Governor, BY being altogether dependent
'upon the crown fer his lupPort, becomes Po-
htlvely vcftsd with any new powers which
were NOT granted 10 him by the charter, or
that his department in government is en-
larged, yet the relation he before food in to
the people, by his dependence on them is al
tered That check upon the exercife of the
powers that arc veited in MIN by the char.
ter, which was evidently deiigned-to remain
10 the General Aaemby, is anaihlated;
and he may if he p.afes exerclle even his
conaituuonal powers, in fuch manner as
fhall be injurious and oppieffiVe to the peo-
ME without reftraint. He is therefore CO.
vernor, not dependent upon the people as
the charter preicrbes,and conlequently not,
in thar refo, e luch Governor as the neo-