The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-02-13
[ NUMB. SO.
For the MAssAcHUsETTs SPY.

For the MAsSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr. THOMAS, Ftb. H. r772,
The f5Aotuing is an rxfra3 from tbs trlt-
brafed mr., Hmcbrj0n's neral PbibEpby
Voi nd tieaJf to bnbh@ it far the beyglalaf
bis Extellsny THOMAS HU rCHIN-
SON, Elq; Captain General and GOvsv-
nor in C6iet, in and over bic My1G's
Provinre Of the AfqDacbafh5. Bay, and
Hies- AamVaisf The (ame.
WHILE Governors Geehn to have honelt
w intentions, and their administration
tolerably promotes the publick intereif, tho
they are not eminent in virtue, or free from
all faults in their public conduct, we fhould
have much indulgence to their weaknelles,
conGdering the difficulties and the great tenn
tations in that high fate. They are ftill
perfons of great importance TO the public
iaterea. Nay as to very worthefsG Governors;
though nothing may be due to them on
their own account, yet much may be due on
account of the publick. Violent changes
are attended with many dangers and fome
comfortable evils. They muf not be at
tempted, except when necehary to avoid or
prevent fome greater evils felt or juRly to be
apprehended from the prelent plan or the adj
miniftration oft. While thefe miichiefs do
not flrpais the evils to be dreaded from vi
olent change, and while there 10 not pref.
peel of Guch hyperion good from the change
as outweighs thele evils, it is the facred du-
ty of fubjeas toward their country to CONT
nue. in obedience, and TO avoid the evils of
civil war. But where it is otherwife, and
no gentler methods can relieve or fecure
fate from mifery, it is duty incumbent on
all toward their country to make all efforts
to change the plan, or divcif fuch perfdious
governors of their powers: all imaginable
facrednes of characters is then gone; they
ccafe to be ble0ings, and are become plaques
10 mankind.
The right of reiilfing limited monarch
or fenate, ufurping powers not vcfted in him
by the contribution, or invading the rights
velfed in iome political council or aiiembly,
which has fome lhare in the parts of the fu-
prcme power, is very manifeR. But We
mutt not imagine that reiilfance is only
lawful in limited governments, where fome
fundamental laws, or contract, or oath taken
at the admiGion of the governors to their
Office, expressly referve certain rights to the
people, and exempt them from their pow
or. In thefe cafes the right Of refiffance
may be lels difputable, and all mankind as
we'll as the fubjeas, will more readily agree
about the julfice oft, and the proper times to
ufe il. But in all governments, even the
molt abfolute, the natural end of the truft
is acknowledged on all fides to be the prof
perity and (afety of the whole body. When
therefore the power is perverted from this
end to the ruin of people, either BY
monfrous tyrannical intention, or any fuch
folly or wickednefs of the rulers as mutt
have the fame effect, the fubjeets mutt have
a right Of reliRance, as the uuf is broken
beiide the manifeif plea of necefiity. Not
to mention again, that all conveyance Ct
ablo.ute power, whether to prince or fe-
nate, with precluGon of all rights of reiiif-
ance, muR be deed originally invalid, as
founded in an error about what is mott ef-
(entisI in luch Plantations, the tendency of
fuch power to the general good.
This fuppofes no court or aflembly fupe-
rior to the king in monarchies, or to the Ief-
nate in arlitocracies, or 20 the poplar a.
femblies in democraeies. II only fuppcfes