their circumstances, neither by themselves, nor by their representatives
in assembly, ever gave their assent to them as a body of laws, and
therefore they obtained not the force of fundamental and unalterable laws
in the colony. What regulations the people found applicable and useful,
they adopted at the request of their governors; but observed them on
account of their own propriety and necessity, rather than as a system of
laws imposed on them by British legislators.

As the proprietors were so fond of these constitutions, and expressed so
much zeal for their establishment, it may not be improper to give a short
and imperfect view of them, especially such as were allowed to take place
in the government of the colony. The eldest of the eight proprietors was
always to be Palatine, and at his decease was to be succeeded by the
eldest of the seven survivors. This palatine was to sit as president of
the palatine's court, of which he and three more of the proprietors made
a quorum, and had the management and execution of all the powers of their
charter. This palatine's court was to stand in room of the king, and give
their assent or dissent to all laws made by the legislature of the
colony. The palatine was to have power to nominate and appoint the
governor, who, after obtaining the royal approbation, became his
representative in Carolina. Each of the seven proprietors was to have the
privilege of appointing a deputy to sit as his representative in
parliament, and to act agreeable to his instructions. Besides a governor,
two other branches, somewhat similar to the old Saxon constitution, were
to be established, an upper and lower house of assembly; which three
branches were to be called a Parliament, and to constitute the
legislature of the country. The parliament was to be chosen every two
years. No act of the legislature was to have any force unless ratified in
open parliament during the same session, and even then to continue no
longer in force than the next biennial parliament, unless in the mean