The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-10-24
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~ I ~ certain in a political fenfe,
k IN and which every free Peo-
~ a. ole fAouId be thoroughly
.sM1U1ly@0 acquainted with. Tyranny
\ nd defpotifm ever increafe in proportion 10 the
= hiilanimity, vicious and debaucneo manners
nation. When that love OF virtue ano
Aedom which 6ra rated them to smlnenee
hrilhes. they will ever prove hyperion 20 tne
Lchinations of their enemies. The truth OF
--ne(e fenriments will be evident from httte
hfpht into RomaA hiaory. would chooie
Iather to enter at prefsnt on this point az "
kooears 60 me. the fame efforts which over
krew the iyaem of the Roman policy arc
!. brolecutine aeaina the Liberties OF tnis pro-
kince. Rome was once free, bat fell . sacrinse
10 zach mesfures. The province OF the MANA
chv,.,ts. Bav has. tiIl lsteiy lived IN fate o.
freedom, but in very little time' no. Outy
mdy, bat ! think may afirm' UNI. DC ~
more rsEI. Add TO this, it the Centinei
ihould be found to prophecy true, tAs'e wefos
Pill found like thunder, THY DISTRACTION
OF THYssLs o IsRAEL.
~ think the prefent fate OF AmefFs'
pretty kmiIar 10 thar period OF Romc' ~nen
SylIa attempted, and finally did iuoSeft
heir freedom. After the exPulfion OF the
Taruuins, when Junius FSItus laid the loan
da,ioo of liberty, and the Pule OF the NO.
man beat high, that manly iuitituuon OF the
Z Agrariau law was FRI thought OF. Had TINS
nsafure been continued, that city had lived,
and perhaps have been fill the mitrefs of the
world. The Agrarian law divided the lands
EQUALLY among the people; confequently the
balance of power was equal, and the conttltu-
\ lrion remained free. But even under this &C.
ITvernmeut, although the natives were generous,
I virtuous and brave. there were found wFetches
who only lived and Rourilhed by fappisg the
I foundation, and preying on the wealth OF their
country. In proportion 80 Rome extended
her conouefts, thele men invented and carried
into execution their intentions. Thefe con-
auerei lands inaead Of being attributed sc-
cording TO abe Letter Of that law, they openly de-
clared were referyed for ,bs public re. As this
feered to anfaer fb< infsnios Of this law, the
people were ealy, although in faa they were
appropriated to their own private emolumenr.
The Pauicisns accordingly grew rich and
powerful, and the commonslty grew proper.
tionably poor and imposent. In the midf Of
,heie actions Tiberiu5 Gracious burt into
public life. He FRI perceived the true fiua-
zion of things. The Roman people had long
been injured, but could nor get redrets. The
Teaion was lecfet ana not perCePtible. Grac-
chus perceived ar length, that the nobility by
thus acquiring the POlefhOn OF the conquered
lands, got the balance of power into their hands.
On This head, ,he Able de Mably elegantly
and sonvinsingly reafou.. ! ehoofe rather 60
infti on the words Of this great man, becaule
the point is Of high importance, and nearly con-
l fserns US, as this very meaiare is 70 far gone
into 10 our day. God grant the eyes Of this
people may be opened TO fee the true natural
/ souIie of theIe things before it is too late.
He fys, "The nobility of Rome, infiched BY
their ufury, and BY having got pOGefion Of
noA of the conquered lands, made up of them
ielves alone, a greater number of centuries
than the whole people rogether and Of con-
iequeree became matter ct all the delibera-
ions in the Campus Martiis, and in the Fo-
Ar.s, On fhe on, hand :.