Reginald Pelham Bolton.
New York City.
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS
IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CONDITIONS IN THE ROYAL COLONY OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER IV (Continued)
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS IN NEW YORK
The administration of Governor George Clinton is very important on the side of Constitutional growth, since it is now that the General Assembly for the first time clearly enunciates the principles of self-government and the right not only to vote the taxes but to determine the ways in which the money shall be expended. In 1747 the colonies were engaged in war with France, and it was of the greatest importance that the outposts and fortified places on the Canadian border should be adequately garrisoned and amply supplied with provisions and munitions of war. Clinton was striving to assert the principle of royal prerogative in the matter of money-bills, a right which Governor Clarke had allowed to slip away from him. This attempt the General Assembly naturally resisted, and as a result is reproached by the Governor with neglecting to provide him with the money necessary to keep the province properly defended against the French. In the Minutes of the General Assembly of Oct. 8th, 1747, appears the following Message from the Governor,
“Gentlemen,
By your Votes I understand you are going upon Things very foreign to what I recommended you: I will receive nothing from you at this critical Juncture, but what relates to the Message I last sent you, viz. By all Means, immediately to take the preservation of your Frontiers, and the Fidelity of the Indians, into consideration: The Loss of a Day may have fatal Consequences; when that is over, you may have Time enough to go upon any other Matters.
G. Clinton.”