Old Virginia and her neighbours

MARYLAND'S VICISSITUDES. 153laws that were agreeable to their conscience ; asa house of commons they must keep their handupon the purse strings and consider if tiie taxeswere not too heavy. The family party of theupper house called such talk seditious, and theparson was roundly fined for preaching politics.But it would be grossly unfair to the proprietorto overlook the fact that on some important occasionshe took sides with the representatives of thepeople against his own little family party. As aninstance may be cited the act of 1666 cessationconcerning the "Cessation of Tobacco." ^^tofi^ee.As the fees of public officials were paid in tobacco,a large crop was liable to diminish theirvalue, and accordingly the upper house wishedto contract the currency by an act stopping allplanting of tobacco for one year. The lowerhouse objected to this, but after a long disputewas induced to give consent, provided Virginiashould pass a similar act. The speaker, however,wrote to Cecilius urging him to veto the act, andhe did so.^The occasions of difference between the twohouses were many and various. One concernedthe relief of Quakers. In Rhode Island, NewJersey, and Jamaica, they were allowed to makeaffirmations instead of taking oaths. When theQuakers ofMaryland petitioned for a similar relief,the burgesses granted it, but the councilrefused to concur. A more importantf \ -r-fmatter was the appomtment or sheriffs.Sheriffs.In addition to the ordinary functions of the sheriff,1 Archives of Maryland : Council, ii. 18.