The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-06-04
4 dialogue 6ftwefa RULER and a SUB
jet.
RULER. Wal. . the news this

RULER w morning
SUBJECT. Ihear nothing but the old Rory,
wrangling about liberty.
K. What do you think of the times
S. think the times are not 70 bad as
many people imagine.
R. fuppofe you are rational enough to
be eafy with the prefer, administration ofge-
vernment, and to fee that all the Glamour a
bout our I" liberties being invaded" is idle
and without foundation
S. No may it pleafe your worihip, !
have not yet arrived to fuch degree of flu
Pidity as to believe contrary to daily expert
ence, and the clearel denomination.
R. What is amifs
/ S. It would fill a folio volume to note
down all the errors in government ; and /
cannot conceive it po1ible that you are ig-
norant of many notorious abufes which the
people have luffered of late from arbitrary
and wicked Rulers.
K. allure you, upon my honour, that
know of no unconstitutional laws, nor any
injuries that the fubjeas have fufered hnce
the reigns of the Sfnarfs.
S. fuppoie you will allow that nine
tenths of the people in America are very un-
eaiy, and think their rights have been in
fringed in the mott elIential things, and that
they have been treated by the prelent admit
niftration in barbarous tyrannical manner !
h. 1t is true, they think 70, but who
mould be judgel
S. The people. They make the rulers,
they fupport tbem,, and they ever have
right to judge of their conduct, and reward
them accordingly.
r. The common people arc not capable
of dctermining whether ruler acts agreea-
bic to the laws and contribution thefe are
deep points and require great deal of fudy
to underaand them.
S. The common people have common
ienie, and that's always fufficient to deter
mine whether the rulers in the general courie
of their conduit, purdue the public good.
This is eaily Obferved, and it is an old
maxim, that the body Of the people can ne
yer be deceived that the vifdom ofthe fate
lies with them, and they always judge right
with regard to the conduct of their Rulers.
R. do not believe all the old fayings,
make the law my rule, as it 10 explained
by many wife men. The learned writer's
on the law and the EngIiih contribution, tell
US Sc the King can do no wrOng," and if he
can do no wrong, how can bis officers do
wrong who act agreeable to bis inGruc-
tons !
S. That maxim, " the King can do no
wrong" notwithstanding all the explica,ons
of court Lawyers Gill remains grand alb
iusdity and if rulers are governed BY fuch
whims, and inconhffent maxims which con-
tradia common fenfe, their bad condua is
eafily accounted for.a
r. You FAY 9 common fenGe" is faffici-
ent to direct peop|e y the matters of go
vernment, and to determine whether the ru-
lers do their duty or not, therefore ihOuld
be glad ifyou would tell me what sIong
in the policy four nation at this tti,1. a.
greeable to your infaIible tea, " common
ienle I"
S. The public intereR is not purified,
nor the public voice regarded many who
are employed in government have no regard
to any thing but their own aggrandizemenfs
as is evident BY the amazing waite of public
money. The voice of the people which
ought ever to be lilfened to by rulers, is treat
ed with contempt.
R. You reckon up catalogue Of evils,
which in your view arevery black.
/ s. Ihave mentioned but fmall part Of
l. u. 4.