Robert Carter, John Lightfoot, and Philip Ludwell state to the Virginia House of Burgesses, May 5, 1705, their reasons for addressing the Queen about the "Mal-Administration" of Governor Francis Nicholson.
You have not thought fit, to Admit us Personally to give You our reasons agt. your intermeddling
wth: the Complaints
&c, against his Excellcy:
which he has laid before you. We have put some few of them in
Writing, wch: we here send You, and we desire your Serious Consideration of before you proceed to any
determination in that Affair. We are
Gentleman Your most humble Servants
J LIGHTFOOT
ROBERT CARTER
PHILL. LUDWELL
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Directed on the Back
To
the Speaker & Gentlemen of
the House of Burgessess
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Reasons offered by John Lightfoot, Robert Carter & Philip Ludwell Esquires agt.
the makeing any Determination by the House of Burgesses upon the
Complaint & Affidavits against his Excellency --
| 1st | That the Complaint was made by the Greater part of the Council then in being who had given their attendance upon the public affairs & were both Eye & Ear witnesses of the mismanagements. there, & therefore they were the most proper persons & the most likely to make a true representation thereof. & Since her Majesty has been pleased to appoint them of the Council , & thereby has made it their proper Province to give the best advice they can for preserving her Majestys Interest & the peace & welfare of her Subjects here; they take it to be a duty incumbent upon them in Case of the Mal-Administration of a Governor to apply themselves to their Sovereign for Redress, & this they think they have a right to doe without being liable to any Censure but that of her Majesty. And they think that both her Majestys Service & this Countries interest will be greatly promoted thereby. |
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| 2d. | That the matters contained in the Complaint for the most part are Mal-Administrations in the -- Council in the General : Court & in the Upper house of the General Assembly; So that the Council are not only the best acquainted with the transactions there, but also they are most nearly concerned in thm. as relateing chiefly to their Libertys & priviledges in which the House of Burgesses have no right to intermeddle. |
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| 3d. | That the Complaint consists of matters of fact which are provable by Evidences, & the Complainants are able to make Sufficient proof of them whenever they shall be lawfully impowered so to doe, but at present they cannot do it, because her Majesty has not thought fitt to give any directions therein, and they cannot believe that the House of Burgeses will ever be guilty of so great an absurdity as to proceed to Judgement of the truth or falsehood of any matter of fact, -- which doth not lie within their own knowledge, without Examining such Evidence as can be given to make proof thereof. |
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| 4. [sic ] | That (whatever has been suggested) the Complainants have always been far from endeavouring to raise partys or factions or to disturb the peace of the Country; on the Contrary their great moderation has appeared in the patience & Submission they they have shewed notwithstanding the many injuries & indignities (not to be mentioned) tht. have been put upon themselves & others by the Governrs. unjustifiable behaviour, & in this particular Case they addressed themselves in the most peaceable & humble manner to her Majesty the proper fountain of justice for their relief, & she has been gratiously pleased to take the same into her own Cognizance So that the House of Burgesses cannot concerne themselves in this matter without arrogateing to themselves a power to make a previous determination to tht. of her Majesty in an affair which she has been pleased in an Especial manner to reserve for her own Consideration. |
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| 5th. | That it appears plainly by her Majestys Order in Council & by the Letters from the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners for Trade tht. the Complaint & other papers were sent to the Governor . for him to make his answer; not that they should be brought to any trial or determination here; it is so far from that, that he is commanded not to show so much as any manner of resentment agt. the Complainants, until her Majestys pleasure be further known. And it is impossible the House of Burgesses should take upon them to make any Judgement . in this matter with out going directly Contrary to her Majestys pleasure in this particular, & to the very express Letter as well as intent of the command from the Lords Commissioners for Trade. |
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| 6th. | That the House of Burgesses cannot take upon them to intermeddle in this affair without making themselves Judges of the Rights & Priviledges of the Council , which in Consequence may create lasting divisions & misunderstandings between them & the Burgesses; For whatever determination shall be made here it cannot be supposed tht. the Complainants will be so far wanting either in their duty to her Majesty or in their regard to their own Characters or the Countrys interest as to Sit Still patiently & not endeavour to Set all persons & their proceedings in a true light. And it is not improbable but the misfortunes tht. may ensue to the Country upon such differences, may be what is chiefly aimed at. |
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| 7th. | That the Complainants have been very Cautious of Concerning themselves with the House of Burgesses tht. they might not give them the least umbrage of disatisfaction. And surely the House of Burgesses have great reason to be as Cautious tht. they do not themselves sew those seeds of discord &C Contention which may in a short time grow up to interrupt the peace & happiness of the -- whole Country. |