The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-10-10

truth OF this maxim is very OBVIOUS, ano ieFe1
with the meaneR understanding. II appears to
me. this diviGon was never more conipicuous
in any period of mankind, than the Preient
day. That there lhould be mutual harmony
between the feveral parts of government,
reafon tells usis necefary, for the prelervalion
Of a fate. However, we unhaPPily find the
frH branch Of government divided, alienated
and eltranged from the other parts. Initead
of fha-ine in their councils, and uniting 10 in-
tereR, which will ever, to allude to Judge
Blackstone, /" give life and vigour to com
munity, and fet the wheels of government in
notion" there appears a prevailing diitruit
and enmity, which NUT prove fatal. have
lately been on this intereaing fubjed, have
difcanted on the nature of minilterial inftruc-
tions, which tend to create this diviiion, and
will prove the fubverfon of the contribution.
But what then laid, was principally intended
for the confederation and attention Of the-----.
: msans to make hin feufbie, thar the law
ought TO be the Randard Of his actions, THAT
varying from it, is going counter to the lenie,
even Of nations, not happy in clear ietlled no.
tons of freedom, and in fine, that if perhited
IN, iuch conduit may be attended with con-
iequences fmilar to what former ages have ex-
perienced; consequences, big with ruin, mi
icry and dearuaion. lhalI now look into
them as they Immediately re(pe6t this people,
this community itfeif Moutelquieu Prefages,
thar as Rome, Sparta, Carthage, have loa
their liberty and perihed, 10 the contribution Of
England, will in time lofe its liberty, will pc
rim. Backbone thinks he is too haay, con-
hdering the nature of the B'ith contribution.
nmy humble opinion, Montelquieu underaood
the matter rather better than Backbone. The
event has confirmed the ruth, and jufi6ed the
preGdent. The contribution of this country is
Cxsaly fmilar to that of Great Britain; yet
we find this contribution verges very near thar
Gluation. For ] affirm, and may my country
men attend to the important awful truth, J.
affirm the contribution Of this people is perrin
ing quite fat, and is no more what it formerly
was, than the NOT diRant thing can be. The
attentive examiner can no more found his no.
lions of the Happiness of this contribution from
the prelent appearance of it, than the cool OBJ
ferver can collect the beauty of the antient
form of the Roman goverament in the days Of
the republic, from the appearance it after
wards made, over run eith Goths, Van
dsls, and other bsrbsrians, when convulfons
tore the bowels Of the contribution, and ihook
the BATS of the empire.
That Houf of Commons hould have
freedom Of debate, liberty of conlulting for
the common welfare, and power Of putting
into execution what they have agreed on, every
one knows isabioluteiy efentisl toits exifence
The original defgn of this body was, as has
been formerly obierved,,o give the people that
weight In the legislative free aa:e hould
ever have. Con1equently the rights and pri-
viIeges Of the community have an infeparable
connection with, and mutt fsnd or fall with
this augua lenate. If this then is the cafe, it
is Of the higheR imp Ortsnce, thar the f. edom
Of this body llculd be inviolable and scred.
To invade any of It's rights is delicate affair.
and will ever be though, 70 by people jealous
OF their Lecutity and derer.nined ~ aeiand ia