The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-09-12


RANGES Of my life. 1ruely if there ever was
a period in American hffory, that required
vigilance, and a careful INFECTION of the
times, the prefent does. ! have taken no
little pains to run over paf lcenes, and trace
the views that dire6ed, and the principles
which aauated men in power, and think
they never were 70 dangerous, 70 dciirucfive
OF orde;, liberty and harmony, as they ieem
20 be now. That tenderness, and Affection
ate regard which denominates the father of
a people, imperceptiby has vaniihed, and
the love of many has waxed cold. In fuch
a criGs it is high time for people to look to
their own fecurity, and purfue every manly,
vigorous and decent plan, that may conduce
TO the common fafety. ConGcious that thele
are the principles which hrf excited me to
exprefs my lentiments on what thought of
moment and concern, fhall fill purfue my
plan. If in any number ihal be able to eff
feet what earnelfly defire, and be the means
OF proving beneficial TO anyof my county
men, fhall think my time, my labour, and
my trouble we'll fpsnt. The refentment of
party, OF the little dirty attempts of paralites,
or court fycophants, who unable to reafon,
can only fnar, | heartily defpife. | am there
fore determined, while | am conlcious a6t
the part of good citizen, to 90 on in the
method have begun, and lay before my
countrymen every occurrence, every phano-
menon in the political world, which think
dangerous 10 the Gecurity of the whole.
| have heard fome worthy members of this
community, expecting their dellres to knew
my ientiments with reipea to. the fuhject Of
Miniferia Infruefions. ! had determined
upon this long Gnce, land lhall coolly examine
the fubjea, as | think it of very great i'm
portance to this people. am then clearly
of opinion, that profecuted as they now are,
they are wholly illegal, fabvcriiye of govern
ment, and will, uniefs checked, be the total
extirpation Of our Liberties. Whether GO
vernon may lawfully be afiaed with the adj
vice of an honef minRer,I Ghal wholly pa6
over. This, however, | will fay even in this
view, was this advice, though uprightly in
tended, counter to he fenie of people, 60
vernon fhould BY no means purdue it. But
thoie things are immaterial and vary eflen-
italy from the preient cafe. We meet wi b
inaruaioss big with ruin, inimical in their
nature, aud directly fatal to the hra principles
of the contribution. We find thele inhru6fi-
ons religiouny adhered to, and put in execu-
ton; of conIequence it is not our ancien,
form of government we live under, but quite
q new model. The highea branch of tie
legislature feems to be vacant, or worfe than
vacant; and the Reprelenta,iye of the King,
in this province is, in faS, the miniAer of
fate. Hence there is a fchifm 10 the confi-
tuition, and fchlln of i very dangerous IA
tuTe. My thoughts on this fubjc9 lhai be
delivered in the following order. ] affirm,
that the Governor, yea, the Monarch on the
throne, is as much bound By the laws of The
realm, as the meAnea plebeian / bat thofe
laws are the iole RandArd. the fole meafure
Of bis actions Thar varying from thele laws
rnua prOccsd from ignorant, or very knayi!h