The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-08-22


f! hurt the olher lawtaily. The reaton where
of is plain bvcauie the ono uGng force,
which threatened my Ike, | could not have
time to appeal to the law oiecure it sand
when it was gone, it was too late to appeal.
The law could 10, reaore life TO my dead
carcalc. The lois was irreparable which
to prevent, the law'of nature gave me right
to deRroy him who had put himleifinto fate
Of war with me, and threatened my denruc-
zion. bat in the other cafe, ny life nor be-
ing in danger, may have the benefit; of APP
psaIlng to the law, and have PREPARATION tx
my 100 l. that way.
Fenrtb5, But if the unlawful acts done
by the magiltrate, be maintained (by the
power be has got) and the remedy which is
due b. law,be by the fame power obRruSed ;
yet the right of reiilfing, even in iuch mani
fcf acts oftyranny, will net faddenIy, or on
flight locations, difurb the government.
For if itreach no farther than lome private
mems cafes, though they have right TO de-
fend themfelves,an to recover by force, what
By unlawful force is taken from them yet
the right to do 70, will not eaGly engage them
in contelf wherein they are fure to perrin ;
it being as impofible for one or few
oppreiied men to diifuih the government,
where the body of the people do not think
| tilemeves concerned in il, as for a raYinS
mad man, or heady male-content to overturn
a we'll fetted fate, the people being as little
apt to follow the one as the other.
But if either thefe illegal acts have extend
ed to the majority of the people, or if the
mitchell and opprefiOn has light only on fome
few, but in fuch cafes, as the precedent and
consequences ieem to threaten all, and they
are pef(uadedin their condolences that their
laws, and wishthem their eilates, liberties,
and lives are in danger, and perhaps their re-
ligion too how they will be hindered from
relifing illegal force, uGed againf them,
cannot tell. This is an Inconvenience, l
confefs, that attends all governments whatfo-
ever, when the Governors have brought i, to
this psls, to be generally fulpeaed of their
people, the mott dangerous fate they can
politely put themlelves in, wherein they are
the leis to be pited, becauie it is 70 ealy to be
avoided. 1t being as impofiible for Co
vernon, if he really means the good of his
people, and the prefervalion Of them and
their laws together, not to make them fee
and feel il; as is for the father of family
not TO let his children fee he loves and takes
care of them.
But if all the world fhould obferve preten-
ces of one kind, and actions of another arts
ufed to elude the law, and the truif of prero-
gative (Which is an arbitrary power in fome
things left in the Princes hand TO do good,
not BARN to the people, employed contrary
to the end for which it twas given, if the peo-
pie lllal find the minifers and fubordinaie
magiRrates chofen fuitable to fuch ends, and
favoured, or laid by Proporiionably as they
promote, or oppole them: If they fee feveral
experiment made of arbitrary power, and
that religion underhand izvoured, though
pr bIickly proclaimed againa, which is readi-
eft to introduce it, and the operators IN it
Imported as much as may be and when that
cannot be done, yet approved fill and liked
the better, and long train Of aetings ihtw
the councils all tending that way: How can
man any more hindc. himfs!f from being
perfuaded in bis own mind, which way thisgs
are going or from eating about how TO
fave himieIf, then be cauld fion believing
the captain Of the Chip be was in, was cary