The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-07-02
From the NORTH BRITON..
Exn0ts from The FREEHoLDERs Political
G. A T + G. II s M.
0 WHO are you
wv A. | ann L. M. ffeeholde

w n. am IL M. HeehoioeI
of Great Britain.
Q. What privilege enjoyeR thou by
being freeholder of Great Britain /!
A. BY being a freeholder of Great
Britain, am greater man in my civil
capacity, than the greatef fubjcet of an
arbitrary Prince becaule am governed
by laws, to which give my content; and
nv life, liberty and goods, cannot be taken
from me, but according to tho(e laws j
am freeman.
0. Who gave thee this ibertyi
A. No man gave it me. Liberty is
.he natural right of every human creature.
He born to the exerife of it as foon as
he has attained to that of his reafon; but
that my liberty is prefcrved TO me, when
LOFT 10 great part OF mankind, is owing
under God TO the wifdom and yalourDf my
ancetors freehoEders of this realm.
0 Wherein does this liberty which
thou enjoyef conGf !
A. An laws made by the content of the
people, and the due execution of thoie
laws. | am tree not from the law, but by
the law.
20. Wilt thou Rand fat in this liberty,
whereunto thou art bound and entitled by
the laws of thy country
A. Yes verify, by Gods grace, |
will and thank his good providence
that / am born a member of community
governed by laws and not by arbitrary
power.
Q What dof thou think incumbent
upon thee, 10 fccure this blefing TO thyislf
and poferity
A. As am freebooter, think it i'm
cumbent upon me to believe Alright concern
ing the fundamental articles of the govern
ment, to which am fubjed to write,
fpeak, and aet on all occalions conformab y
to this orthodox faith to oppole, with a |
the powers of my body and mind, fuch as
are enemies 10 our good conftitntion, toge-
Their with all their fecret and open alb ttors,
and to be obedIent to che King, the fu-
preme magiftrate of the focietY.
Q Rehearle unto me the articles OF
thy political creed
A. believe that the fuPeme, or legif-
latiye power of this realm reGdes in the
king, lords and commons that his majef-
tykIng G.orge the f-cond is Sovereign, or
fupreme executor of the law to whom
upon that account, all loyalty is due thar
each of the three members Of the Legislature
are endowed with their particular rights
and Offices that the King, by his royal
prerogative, has the power of determining
and appointing the time and place of the
meeting of plrliaments that The e0z(snt Of
king, isrds and commons, Is nsexDa,y TO the be-
ing of a L9tU, and all the tn &C make but
one awgiver; that as to the freedom of
content in making of laws, tho(e three
powers are independent, and that each ana
all The three are 6oEnd to sbjtrVsfbs IarOJ that
are made.
Q. Why is tn: Legislative power fu-
preme !
A. Becaufs what gives law to all, mufi
be fupreme.
Q. What meaneR thou by loyalty to
the. king
A.. / have heard that 10y igni6.s lasO
and loyalty obedience according to law ;
therefore he who pays this obedience, is a
loyal fubjea and he who executes the
kings, commands, when contrary to law,
is dl1oyal and traitor.
, O. Is it not maxim in the law, that
the king can do no wrong!
A. 1t is; for face kings do not aa
Immediately by themielve., but lmmediate-
ly by their officers, and inferior magiitrAtes I;
the wifdom of the law provides Efficiently
againit any undue exercife Of Their power,
BY charging all illegal acts, and all kinds OF
male adminRra,on upon their mn.ttsrs
by tbs gFsat rsga,d SO6ie6 IS paid 10 the king
BY fbi, maxim, laying BIN under an ia
dJbEtabis sbligaiisn, not to lRreer BIZ minifers
jiOm public jajiie,, or public inquiry.
q WHAT dot thou m-an BY the royal