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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Report by the Board of Trade of Great Britain concerning the governments of proprietary colonies
Great Britain. Board of Trade
September 02, 1714
Volume 02, Pages 142-143

[B. P. R. O. Proprieties. B. T. Vol. 30. P. 418.]
REPORT TO THE Lds OF THE COMMITTEE OF APPEALS FROM THE PLANTATIONS, IN RELATION TO TEMPORARY LAWS PASSED THERE. SEPt 2nd 1714

To the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee for Hearing Appeals from the Plantations.

May it please your Lordships

In obedience to your Lordships Order of Reference, of the 5th of June last, directing Us to examine & inform Ourselves, by the best means We can, how and by what Grants or Authoritys the Plantations in America do claim the Liberty and Power of making temporary Laws for so short a time that the Prerogative of the Crown for approving or disapproving such Laws is evaded; and to propose to your Lordships what Methods We may think proper for setting aside those Practises; We have considered the same, and also had the Opinion of his Majestys Attorney Genl therein, Whereupon We humbly take leave to represent to your Lordships,

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As to the Laws to be made in the Proprietary Governments, We are humbly of Opinion that Mischief cannot be remedied there, but by an Act of Parliament of Great Britain For that the Proprietors thereof have a Right vested in them, of the power of making Laws granted by their Charters and are not, nor can now be put under any other Restraint or Regulation than such as are contained in their respective Charters, But by an Act of Parliament.

As to Pennsylvania, We are informed, Directions were given for perfecting the Agreement with Mr Pen, and for preparing an Act of Parliament, to supply his incapacity, and to alter the Method complain'd of as to temporary Laws; and the time limited for transmitting and approving Laws made there; But during the last session of Parliament, a Bill for that purpose could not be settled in regard of some Differences between the Mortgagees and the Family of Mr Penn.

We humbly take leave to represent that there is not any obligation by Charter to return the Laws made in the Proprietary Governments of Carolina, Connecticut and Rhode Island for the Approbation of the Crown, and therefore We think it necessary that an Act of Parliament be pass'd to oblige them to transmit their Laws and to have them submitted to his Majesty's approbation

All which is most humbly submitted


Whitehall
Septr 2nd 1714
GUILFORD
PH. MEADOWS
ARTH. MOORE
JNo SHARP
SAMl PYTTS.