OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 149 



Quakers, do conscientiously refuse the taking of an oath," was passed 

 Feb. 3, 1742-4:3. 



The relation between the Governor and the Assembly was unhappily 

 without cordiality and characterized by mutual distrust, [1742.] His 

 policy, at this stage, was the removal from office of persons opposed to 

 his views, and among the victims of his intolerance was John Wright, a 

 member of the Assembly, a Justice of the Peace and President of the 

 Common Pleas in Lancaster county. He was noted for common sense, 

 and amiability of character, blended with firmness. In his charge 

 to the grand jury, before the publication of the new commissions, he 

 said : ^ 



"I was ahvays a friend to power, well knowing that good and whole- 

 some laws, duly executed, are so far from being a restraint upon true 

 liberty, that they are only as regulating springs to the passions, and pro- 

 ductive of it. And our worthy founder and first proprietary tells us, 

 that he composed his frame of government with a view to support power 

 in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of 

 power; and these two are generally seen to attend each other, as causes 

 and effects. And a noted professor of the law^ in this Province some 

 years ago, when he espoused the cause of liberty, and loaded with age 

 and infirmities, took a long journey in defence of it, has these words on 

 power: *It may justly be compared to a great river, which, while kept 

 within due bounds, is both beautiful and useful ; but when it overflows 

 its banks, is then too impetuous to be stemmed, it bears down all before 

 it, and brings destruction and desolation where it comes.' 



"If then, these are the ill efiects of lawless power, every wise man 

 ought to be on his guard to prevent them, by keeping up the banks of 

 liberty and common right, the only bulwark against it. 



"It was in defence and support of this great bulwark, against the at- 

 tempts of power, under a pretence of serving his majesty, but done in 

 such a manner, as I apprehend, cannot be supposed ever intended or 

 expected by our most gracious sovereign, whose distinguishing character 

 is to protect, and not to oppress; and whatever burden the necessity of 

 the times requires to be laid upon the subjects under his immediate and 

 just administration, is laid equally and impartially. I say it was to the 

 opposition given by the House of Eepresentatives to the manner in which 

 these attempts were made, and the just concern and dislike showed 

 thereto, that we may impute the late changes made in the commissions 

 of the peace, throughout the province, whatever other pretences they 

 may be glossed with. 



"For this cause, my friends and countrymen, for the cause of English 

 liberty, for the standing in the civil defence of right and property, are 

 1 Gordon 2 Andrew Hamilton, on the trial of Zengar, at New York. 



