The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly

MARCH 29, 1759369In the Upper House of Assembly, the 28th Day of March 1759.By Order of the House, Edward Fenwicke.The Amendments proposed by the Council to the “Bill to restrain andprevent the too frequent Sales of Goods, Wares and Merchandize, by PublicAuction or Out Cry in Charles Town, and for the better Regulation ofSuch Sales,” being twice read, were agreed to by the House.Ordered that the “Bill for preventing as much as may be the Spreadingof Malignant and Contagious Distempers in this Province, and for repealingthe former Acts and Paragraphs of Acts heretofore made for thatPurpose,” be Engrossed.And then the House adjourned till To Morrow Morning Nine of theClock.Thursday the 29th Day of March 1759.The Journal of Yesterday’s Proceedings was read.Several Members representing to the House that the Minute takendown in the Journal of Yesterday’s Proceedings relating to the Taxation ofall Lands Granted in this Province, according to the full Value, did not fullyExpress the Nature of the Question as founded on the Motion made for thatpurpose, and that the Sense of the Majority then was to pass a Negative onthe Impractibility of immediately ascertaining the Mode or Method to levythe said Tax, which would require more time for Consideration than possiblycould be spared, so as to be made part of the present Tax Bill.A Question was thereupon stated, by way of Amendment to that of Yesterday,Vizt.That Each respective Tract of Land granted in this Province, be taxedaccording to the full Value thereof, to be ascertained by Assessors appointedin the several Districts and Sworn for that purpose.And the Question so stated being propounded,Resolved (Upon the Question) that the Minute of Yesterday relative to theLand-Tax be amended, by inserting the Words, Each respective Tract of Land, insteadof, all Lands, and by adding thereto, the Words following, to be ascertainedby Assessors appointed in the several Districts, and sworn for that Purpose.The following Message to the Council was drawn, vizt.Honorable Gentlemen,This House having Considered the several Amendments which YourHonors propose to be made to the “Bill to restrain and prevent the too frequentSales of Goods, Wares & Merchandize &ca.” have agreed to all the saidAmendments.