Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Assembly
I Return you thanks for the Warm Congratulations, you Express for the Surprising Success of his Majestys Arms, and for your promise of Cooperating with me in everything for his Majestys Service, and the Interest of the Province; and to preserve the Harmony so necessary at this Juncture, between the Several branches of the Legislature.
I have already pursuant to your former Address, laid before you the Accounts lately Sent to me from New York, for the Sums Issued for the Troops Sent to New York; and the Officers who Served on the Ohio are ready to account when required by the General Assembly, for the Sums they received upon that Account as no money went thorough my hands, I having only issued Orders for the Treasurers, which the persons who received the money are to Account for—
The Occasion of loosing the Aid Bill you mention, was from the Tacking a Clause, of a Different Nature, to the Aid Bill, which is Certainly Unconstitutional.
As to the Notice you have taken of the Observations I made at the dissolution of the Assembly, I am only to Inform you that I acted in pursuance of my instructions which requires me to See that the Accounts are properly Audited, when then I am to Lay before the General Assembly, and afterwards Transmit them to England; If his Majesty withdraws that Instruction I shall gladly Acquiesce in it: I thought it then my duty to Inform you, that the Accounts produced were not regular; as no list of Taxables were laid before me by the Treasurer of the Northern District, nor any Arrear Returned, So as to Inform the General Assembly what should be the Account of the Tax, or whether the Deficiency was occasioned by the Sherriffs, or from the neglect of the Treasurers; for if the Amount of the Taxes is not Certainly known and properly Collected, the burthen must be Increased upon your Constituents—
I shall always Endeavour, to the utmost of my Power to promote the Harmony between the Several Branches of the Legislature; and readily Concur in every Measure that may Conduce to the Happiness and prosperity of this Province.
North Carolina
Answer to Address of Lower House by the Governor
Rx with the Govrs. Letter of 28. May 1760.
Read Novr. 26. 1760.
E.16.
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