received from King William and Queen Mary
a
Charter, by which it was understood by both
Parties in the contract, that such a proportion or
balance was fixed; and therefore every thing
which renders any one Branch of the Legislative
more independent of the other two than it was
originally designed, is an alteration of the Con-
stitution as settled by the Charter; and as it has
been, until the establishment of this Revenue,
the constant practice of the general Assembly to
provide for the support of Government, so it
is an essential part of our Constitution, as it is
a necessary means of preserving an Equilibrium,
without which we cannot continue a free State.
In particular it has always been held, that the
dependence of the Governor of this Province
upon the General Assembly for his support, was
necessary for the preservation of this Equilibrium;
nevertheless his Majesty has been
pleased to ap-
ply Fifteen Hundred Pounds Sterling annually,
out of the American Revenue, for the sup-
port of the Governor of this Province indepen-
dent of the Assembly; whereby the ancient con-
nection between him and this People is weaken-
ed, the Confidence in the Governor lessened,
the Equilibrium destroyed, and the Constitution
essentially altered.
And we look upon it highly probable, from
the best intelligence we have been able to ob-
tain, that not only our Governor and Lieutenant