Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, July 3, 1723, to report on the law passed by the recent General Assembly limiting the quantity of tobacco that can be produced by each planter, and stating some of the arguments in its favor. He thanks Perry for his recent arguments against the Scots merchants, and hopes Perry will work for the King's support of the new law. He admits to Perry that the new law may not reduce the quantity of tobacco available for sale because each planter will use his best grounds for his limited number of plants, and will tend them with greater care. He also informs Perry of new taxes on liquor and on slaves, the latter which he is sure that the African company will fight even though Maryland has had a similar law for some years, and the tax is paid by the colonists rather than the importer. He sends Perry copies of the speeches recently given in the Assembly by the governor and others.
The Vigorous Appearance
you made against the
North Brittains, when the complaints against their frauds was in --
Agitation gives us hopes you will be Ready to give your Assisting hand
to all Oportunities that may offer for the
promoting the good of the tobacco
Trade and the Welfare of this country, and in your Letters you have
recommended to us the doing what we could to help our Selves in
Order to which our good Governour
has adventured to pass a Law
for laying a Stint upon planting tobacco : to 6 ,000 000
plants
per head for three Years
which is to be in force in April next that the Kings pleasure may
be known whether he will be graciously pleased to allow us this
Law, we are not insensible It may raise potent enemies at home
as well as it will Occasion representations by some from hence
on Accot: of the harsh aspect it has upon the Kings Revenue both
in Britain and here, we are in hopes the Merchants will very well
approve of it and give their utmost Efforts to Support it in being,
neither will it lessen the Quantity of tobacco so mightily as some
will Imagine, we shall tend all the best of our Grounds and Manage
it with the greatest niceness so that probably we shall make more
and better tobacco of this 6 000
m plants than we usually do of 10 or
12: Thousand besides we shall turn out a great many to making tobacco
that we are now employed other ways in hopes of its becoming a
good commodity , the present necessity our Trade is under strongly
pleads for us a low market at home your Shipping all coming full
and now the greatest prospect of a Crop upon the Ground that ever
was known, what must we come to shall we not be allowed to
Live upon our labour, we must be driven by necessity to some
other ways to Support our families, tobacco will never do it unless
we can restrain ourselves to make no more than the World will
Consume, I need not multiply Arguments to you
There is another Law passed laying a Duty upon Liquors
and 40 shillings per head on Slaves instead of 5 £: although this has been
a standing Law
for a long time always when the country was in
want of Money for our Public Occasions and is now Subsisting in
Maryland is highly
threatened with a repeal by the African company
although in truth the Tax is laid upon our Selves and not upon the
Importers, Constant Experience has convinced us that Slaves
and Liqours have risen in proportion to the Duties & more
, but we
want not malcontents tht will lay hold of all Occasions
to be Caviling and finding fault with
everything that is done under the present administration there are
several other things do not a little disturb our Anti Courtiers you
will have news Mongers enough I dare say I need not give --
you the trouble
For your entertainment I send you the Speeches that
passed between the Governour and the Assembly, you must Excuse
the faults of your man Harvey who is a very Indifferent Clerk
I am