398 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



taking' to their assistance, for advice only, the 

 judges of the supreme court. They have pow- 

 er to grant pardons, and remit fines, in all cases 

 whatsoever, except in treason and murder, iri 

 which they have power to grant reprieves, but 

 not to pardon until after the end of the next ses^ 

 sion of assembly, and in cases pf impeachment, 

 in which there is no remission or mitigation of 

 punishment, but by act of legislation. They 

 may also lay embargoes, or prohibit the expor- 

 tation of any commodity, for any time not ex- 

 ceeding thirty days, in the recess of the house 

 only. The governor is caj:)tain general and 

 commander in chief of the forces of the state, 

 but shall not command in person, except advis- 

 ed thereto by the council, and then only so long 

 as they shall approve : And the lieutenant gov- 

 c -nor by virtue of his office, is lieutenant gen- 

 eral of all the forces of the state. 



That the laws before they are enacted may 

 be more maturely considered, and the incour 

 venience of hasty determinations as much as 

 possible prevented, all bills which originate in 

 ihe assembly are laid before the governor and 

 council for their revision and concurrence, or 

 proposals of amendment ; who return the same 

 to the assemi:ily with their proposals of amend- 

 iiicnt (if any) in writing ; and if the same are 

 not agreed to by the assembly, it is in the pow- 

 er of the gover!\or and council, to suspend the 

 passing of such bills, until the next session of 

 the legislature.^ But no negative is allojMed.lQ 

 the governor and council. 



The formers of the constitution were .a\MJre 

 that the plan of government, -.\vbich they had 



