The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-07-04

1sSSEag1h ~ taxing INC PlCiE,- -'lo "tltS
SQE - NG9 for fame, and to be I'M
@l1 lI@N known, Ito fupport the in
sysSsS.SSgX uigues of faction, and to BE-
JSQ0T@6 dIlowned, as a dangerous
auxiliary, By every party in the kingdom,
are contradictions which the miniffer muli
reconcile, before | forfeit my credit with the
public. may quit the fervice, but it would
be abfurd to fufpea me of deiertion. The
reputation of theie papers is an honorable
pledge for my attachment to the people. To
fachhce a refpeaed character, and to re-
nounce the efteem offocietS, requires more
than MIR. Wedderburne's refolution and
though, in him, it was rather protection
than defertion of his principles Il fpeak
tenderly of this gentleman for when uea-
cherry is in quefion, think we fhould make
allowances for Scotchman) yet we have
ieen him, in the Houfe of Commons, over
whemed with confufion, and almoR bereft
of his faculties. But in truth, Sir, have
left no room for an accommodation with the
piety of St. James's; my Offences are not to
be redeemed by recantstion or repentance :
On one iide, our warmeR patriots would dif-
claim me as burthen to their honeR am
bition on the other, the vilef pIoRitution
If Junus could defend TO III would iofe its
natural merit and influence in the cabinet,
and ueachery be no longer recommends
ton to the royal favour.
The perfons who, till within thefe few
years, have been mott diainguifhed by their
zeal for high church and prerogative, are
now. it ftems, the great aferors Of the pri-
viIeges of the Houfe of Commons. This
|udden alteration of their fentiments, or lam
cuage, carries with it fuipicious appearance
When hear the underlined privileges of the
popular branch Of the Legislature exalted by
tories and jacobites, at the cxpence Of thofe
hria rights which are known TO the fubjea,
and limited by The laws, | cannot but fuipeet
that fome milchievous icheme is in agitation
to dearoy both law and privilege, by oppoling
them to each other. They who have uni
fornly denied the power of the whole legif-
lature to alter the defcent of the crown, and
whole ancefors, in rebellion againf his Ma
jeRy's family, have defended that doctrine at
the hazard of their lives, now tell US, that
privilege of parliament is the only rule of
right, and the chief fecurity of the public
liberty. Ifear, Sir, that while forms remain,
there has been fome material change in the
tubfance of our contribution. The opinions
of thefe men were too abfurd TO be 70 eafily
denounced. Liberal minds are open to con-
yiaion ;---liberal doctrines are capable of
improvement There are PROTOTYPES from
A,heifn, but none from fuperfition. Iftheir
prelent projections were finoere, think they
eoulo not but be highly offended at feeling a
gueaion, concerning parliamentary privilege,
unneceiIArily aarted, at feafon 70 unfz-
vourabe to the Houfe of Commons and by
10 very mean and infgni6cant perfcn as the
minor OnAow. They knew that he prefent
Houfe of Commons having commenced hoi-
Utilities with the people, and degraded the
authority of the laws by their own example,
were likely enough to be reiifed, PER }as ct
nefas. If they were really friends to priyi-
leee, they would have thoDght the quefon
Of right too dangerous to be hazaTded at this
leafon, and, without the formality of con-
Ventiou, would have left IL undecided.
I have been filent hitherto, though not
from that fhsmeful Indifference about the in
tereas Of focie;yi which rco many Of us pro-