Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/184

156 need shall require to Summon and call General Assemblies of the said Freeholders and Planters within your Government in manner and form as shall be directed in Our Instructions which shall be given You together with this Our Commission. . . . And You. . . with the Consent of Our said Council and Assembly or a Major Part of them respectively shall have full Power and Authority to make constitute and ordain Laws Statutes and Ordinances for the Publick Peace Welfare and Good Government of Our said Province and of the People and Inhabitants thereof and such others as shall resort thereto and for the Benefit of Us Our Heirs and Successors which said Laws Statutes & Ordinances are not to be repugnant but as near as may be agreable to the Laws and Statutes of this Our Kingdom of Great Britain Provided that all such Laws, Statutes and Ordinances of what Nature or duration soever be within three Months or sooner after the making thereof transmitted unto Us under Our Seal of Nova Caesaria or New-Jersey for Our Approbation or disallowance of the same, As also Duplicates thereof by the next Conveyance.

And in Case any or all of the said Laws, Statutes and Ordinances (being not before confirm'd by Us) shall at any time be disallowed and not approved and so Signify'd by Us Our Heirs and Successors under Our or their Privy Council unto you ... or to the Commander in Chief of Our said Province for the time being then such and so many of the said Laws Statutes and Ordinances as shall be so disallowed & not approved shall from thenceforth cease determine and become utterly void and of none Effect anything to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

And to the end that nothing may be passed or done by Our said Council or Assembly to the Prejudice of Us Our Heirs & Successors We will and Ordain that You. . . shall have and enjoy a Negative Voice in the making and passing of all Laws Statutes & Ordinances as aforesaid.

And you shall and may likewise from time to time as you shall Judge it necessary adjourn prorogue and dissolve all General Assemblys as aforesaid. . . . And we do further by these Presents give and grant unto you. . . full Power & Authority with the Advice and Consent of Our said Council to erect constitute and establish such and so many Courts of Judicature and Publick Justice within Our said Province under your Government as you and they shall think fit and necessary for the hearing and determining of all Causes as well Criminal as Civil according to Law