Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Memorandum from Richard Jackson to the Board of Trade concerning acts of the North Carolina General Assembly [Extracts]
Jackson, Richard, 1722-1787
February 14, 1772
Volume 09, Pages 237-238

[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind.: No. Carolina. Vol. 17.]

To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade
and Plantations.

May it please your Lordships.

In humble obedience to your Lordships commands signified to me by Mr Pownall I have perused and considered Forty three Acts

-------------------- page 238 --------------------
passed by the Governor Council and Assembly of the Province of North Carolina in December 1770 and January 1771.

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗

I am humbly of opinion that the said Acts although some of them are inaccurately penned yet as such inaccuracy does not affect the substance thereof are proper in point of Law submitting only to your Lordships whether the encouragement of Exemption from Taxes in the Act for encouraging the further Settlement of the Province should not have been extended to all Persons as well as to those who shall come immediately from Europe inas much as such exclusive encouragement may have a tendency to increase the immigration from his Majesties European Dominions.

I have also perused and considered an Act of the same Assembly intitled an act for preventing Tumults and Riotous Assemblies for the more speedy and effectual punishing the Rioters and for restoring and preserving the Public Peace of this Province. And am of opinion that the Clause (fo: 7) permitting any one to kill with impunity a person outlawed in the manner therein described (although the circumstances of the Province may excuse the inserting such clause in this act) is yet altogether unfit for any part of the British Empire and therefore humbly submit to your Lordships that the said Act is fit to be repealed.

All of which is humbly submitted &c.
Rd JACKSON.

14th February 1772