The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-10-24

cefIafn numo Der OF peftons nao Rot pouetuon OF
the conquered Iandss on the other hand, we
fee the Licinisn lsw. which allowed every citi-
zen to poifef only FIVE hundred acres of land.
To look az the law, nothing was feen but the
wifcff seeulations but TO look into the world,
one might fee private citizens greater and
richer than Kings. ElsSeisg The law" p. a.
In this 6tuation, when the contribution thu:
tottered to its foundation, how did the people
behave They unRook the mode of redrefs,
the Able tells Us, ." they conlensed themfelves
with going into banihment, qv5es fby O4g5t
10 baVs taken vengeamt on thar tyrasfs." This
was the junaure they unhappily miifed. The
difeslc was now young, and had it properly
been attended 20, thoie convulfons might
have been prevented, which Afterwards def
troyed the conRitation. Il 10 true. they AFTER
40sr6s ATTEMPTED Whist the Able fays ought frF
to have been thought of. The meaneit rep
tile when trod on, will turn, and dart an IN
efFetauaI fling at the author of its milery.
This was the cafe when Gracious appeared.
He was inAamed with an honeh refentment at
the injuries his country fuGered, and his re-
ientment broke into action. But this was not
the time for theie mealures. The nobility had
long iuftsined the balance Of the soil, Ebfch
produced RIeHRs, out Of which grey that
PowEA by which che people were rAi3ed,
Gracious was driven from the Forum BY
Scipio Naiica, and miierahly lOa his life.
The attempt was PFoieeuted BY a few iuceef-
lors, snd BY Marius, as great folder az ever
Rome produced. But not even the great abili-'
tie: of this man could now alter the balance.
He was demolifhed by SyIla and the Patrici.
ans, and with him may be faid to have ex-
pired the Lao gIimmerings Of Roman freedom.
The lands he distributed to his legions, and
by this means became perpetual dictator.
Rome was now lol, and the balance Of GO
vernment was efedually fixed. The mode was
followed BY C@iar, and all the iucceeding
emper0rs.
Let me nov pref on my countrymen Eeri-
Gus rsAeetion ON the above hilfoIie account.
Was not The Roman government charming
model, sand calculated Seemingly TO laR with
time itieif: What ruined il This fleot, but
mott fatal plan of incresGng the balance of
riches. When this was permitted TO be profe-
cuted, their liberty was for ever gone. The
efforts afterwards made, were but the attempts
of 4 poor, needy, weak party, the laa aruggles
of expiring virtue. And is not the fame mea-
fure now purifying Is not q hyperion balance
of wealth thro y q into one part of government?
Are we not threatned with the proiecution ct
the plan with refped TO the Judges As this
was the fame cauie cf the Roman mifery. il
will be equally ours. For heavens fake, tell
m, my countrymen, according to The nature
of lheie meafu es, what one poor privilege
you have left 7 You already fee your Houle
| Of Representatives., body which ought to
make the hghef perfonage in The p oyince
| lrembIe, laughed 81, and defpiled. The Go
vernon Can now at plealure annul or quafh
| theif proceedings, and may carry them about
attending his chariot wheels. from Cambridge
TO Nauck, or from Naick back again to
Cambridge or Pcnobfcot. Good God is not
this isfazy in the highea fenfe, sOd an iOfamy
which an American lhopld BLUM az. While
the political 1<y is thus clouded, the civil aP-
pears equally dark and gloomy. The Judges
it made independent on the people, can be
equally naughty, Mankind. Especially tifoie
OF dePrsved principles, like fa~uing puppies,
wlll lick the hand that gave them bread. OF
confequsnce, the life and properly of worthy
citizens mnf Rsnda wretched chsBce. Whether
this is chimela. or may be collected from ap-
pesrances, and is the natural cau!e of thsie
things, my countymen, ye mua judge.
The only method then left in Tome future
| day may be what the Romans venvured on,
bar depend on il the fame eonlequenee will
enGae. The fame balance of land, OF riches
| and rower, which cFulhsd Gracious and Ma
RUS, will have the fne sffsd here. Th4I
| ability which furnilhed Syils vi b MS ieeions,