A Political Account of the Island of Trinidad, from Its Conquest by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, in the Year 1797, to the Present Time, in a Letter to His Grace the Duke of Portland |
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Abercromby affairs Alcaldes Alguazil allowed Anthony Moore appears appointed Assessor Beggorat British constitution Cabildo causes ceded cession Chief Judge civil Colonel Picton colony Commandant commerce conduct conquest conse consequence Consulado continued contrary corruption court crime criminal cultivation decision dispute duty election England English Council English laws Englishmen equally Escribano established estates evil exercise expected expence favor French give Governor Picton Granada granted guilty Indies influence inhabitants island Jamaica James James Rigby JOHN NIHELL jurisprudence justice land laws of England lawyer legislative council liberty Majesty Majesty's pleasure measure ment merchants mode mother-country necessary negroes occasion opinion parties peace persons petition plantations planters population Port of Spain possession proceedings produce proper punishment Quebec Robert Bond Roman-Catholics settlers sion Sir RALPH ABERCROMBY situation slaves Spaniards Spanish language Spanish law sugar Thomas tion torture tribunals Trinidad vernment vernor William
Popular passages
Page 138 - The pure and impartial administration of justice is, perhaps the firmest bond to secure a cheerful submission of the people, and to engage their affections to Government. It is not sufficient that questions of private right or wrong are justly decided, nor that judges are superior to the vileness of pecuniary corruption.
Page 183 - When, therefore, in this House we give and grant, we give and grant what is our own. But in an American tax, what do we do? We, Your Majesty's Commons of Great Britain, give and grant to Your Majesty, what? Our own property? No. We give and grant to Your Majesty, the property of Your Majesty's Commons of America. It is an absurdity in terms.
Page 152 - We owe it to our ancestors to preserve entire these rights, which they have delivered to our care; we owe it to our posterity not to suffer their dearest inheritance to be destroyed. But, if it were...
Page 183 - Taxation is no part of the governing or legislative power. The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the Commons alone. In legislation, the three estates of the realm are alike concerned ; but the concurrence of the Peers and the Crown to a tax, is only necessary to close with the form of a law. The gift and grant is of the Commons alone.
Page 117 - The discretion of a judge is the law of tyrants : it is always unknown ; it is different in different men ; it is casual, and depends upon constitution, temper, and passion. In the best, it is oftentimes caprice ; in the worst it is every vice, folly, and passion, to which human nature is liable.'*- — Lord Camden.
Page 183 - Crown to a tax is only necessary to clothe it with the form of a law. The gift and grant is of the Commons alone. In ancient days, the Crown, the barons, and the clergy possessed the lands. In those days, the barons and the clergy gave and granted to the Crown.
Page 159 - In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is vested in one and the same man, or one and the same body of men ; and whenever these two powers are united together there can be no public liberty.
Page 130 - In this distinct and separate existence of the judicial power in a peculiar body of men, nominated indeed, but not removable at pleasure, by the crown, consists one main preservative of the public liberty which cannot subsist long in any state unless the administration of common justice be in some degree separated both from the legislative and also from the executive power.
Page 181 - However distinguished by rank or property, in the rights of freedom we are all equal. As we are Englishmen, the least considerable man among us has an interest equal to the proudest nobleman in the laws and constitution of his country...
Page 183 - ... commons, the proprietors of the lands ; and those proprietors virtually represent the rest of the inhabitants. When, therefore, in this house we give and grant, we give and grant what is our own.