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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Resolution by the House of Commons of Great Britain concerning a resolution by the Jamaican Assembly
Great Britain. Parliament
May 23, 1757
Volume 05, Pages 758-759

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[From MSS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Copy of Resolutions of the House of Commons of the 23d of May 1757, upon certain Resolutions of the Assembly of the Island of Jamaica on the 29th of October 1753.

The Order of the Day being read for receiving the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of the several Papers, which were presented to the House upon the 10th and 24th Days of February, and the 17th Day of March, in the last Session of Parliament, relating to the then Governor, Council, and Assembly of Jamaica, and of the other Papers referred to the said Committee.

Mr. Thomas Gore accordingly reported from the said Committee the Resolutions, which the Committee had directed him to report to the House, which he read in his Place, and afterwards delivered in at the Table where the same were read, and are as followeth, viz:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee That the Resolution of the Assembly of the Island of Jamaica, contained in the Minutes of the said Assembly of the 29th Day of October 1753 in the Words following, viz: “Resolved, That it is the inherent and undoubted Right of the Representatives of the People to raise and apply Monies for the Service and Exigencies of Government, and to appoint such Person or Persons for the receiving and issuing thereof as they shall think proper, which Rights this House hath exerted, and will always exert, in such manner as they shall judge most conducive to the service of His Majesty, and the Interest of His People,” so far as the same imports a Claim of Right in the said Assembly to raise and apply public Money without the consent of the Governor and Council, is illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of the Rights of the Crown and People of Great Britain.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Claim in the said Resolution of a Right in the Assembly to appoint such Person or Persons for the receiving and issuing of public Money, as the said Assembly shall think proper, is illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of the Rights of the Crown of Great Britain.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Six last Resolutions of the Assembly of Jamaica of the 29th day of October 1753, proceed upon a manifest Misapprehension of His Majesty's Instruction to his Governor requiring him not to give his Assent to any Bill of an unusual or extraordinary Nature and Importance, wherein His Majesty's Prerogative or Property of His Subjects may be prejudiced, or the Trade

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or Shipping of this Kingdom any ways affected, unless there be a Clause inserted, suspending the Execution of such Bill, untill His Majesty's Pleasure shall be known, and that such Instruction is just and necessary, and no Alteration of the Constitution of that Island, nor any ways derogatory to the Rights of His Subjects there.

The first Resolution of the Committee, being read a second time, was, with an Amendment thereto, agreed to by the House, and is as followeth, viz.

Resolved, That the Resolution of the Assembly of the Island of Jamaica, contained in the Minutes of the said Assembly of the 29th day of October 1753 in the Words following, viz. “Resolved, That it is the inherent and undoubted Right of the Representatives of the People to raise and apply Monies for the Service and Exigencies of Government, and to appoint such Person or Persons for the receiving and issuing thereof as they shall think proper; which Rights this House hath exerted, and will always exert, in such manner as they shall judge most conducive to the Service of His Majesty and the Interest of his People,” so far as the same imports a Claim of Right in the said Assembly to raise and apply public Money, without the Consent of the Governor and Council, is illegal, repugnant to the Terms of His Majesty's Commission to his Governor of the said Island, and derogatory of the Rights of the Crown and People of Great Britain.

The second Resolution of the Committee being read a second time, an Amendment was made thereunto by the House.

The House was moved, that the Entries in the Journal of the House of the 21st and 23d Days of December 1678, of the Proceedings of the House, in relation to the Bill for granting a Supply to His Majesty, for paying off and disbanding the Forces, might be read.

And the same were read accordingly.

Then the said Resolution, so amended, was agreed to by the House, and is as followeth, viz.

Resolved, That the Claim in the said Resolution of a Right in the Assembly to appoint such Person or Persons for the receiving and issuing of public Money as the said Assembly shall think proper, is illegal, repugnant to the Terms of His Majesty's Commission to his Governor of the said Island, and derogatory of the Rights of the Crown of Great Britain.

The last Resolution of the Committee, being read a second time, was agreed to by the House.