The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-02-20

the ttneis ct things, theif mlleiy was own
TO themfclves. Ii is true Bru,us and fe'
men fruggIed hard for their contribution
but the fatal iilue OF their attempt dampe'
the fprit of the Romans. They were deter
red from again encouaterlng tide which
proved hyperion to their efforts. And through
the reign of the twelve C9iars, we NEE
with no other attempt to vndlcate their free
dom. The kingdom exhibited during thu
period, the appearance ct an old confttutl
on ftruggling and expiring in agonIes, AMI
new one, which founded in violence began
to appear dreadful. Even in the times ofOtho
and ViteIlius, the people were amazlngl,
debated, and had loft all thar magnanimity
and fenGe of honour which before charaete.
rifed them. And by gradual feps in pre-.
pOrfi0n to the increaie of the frengfb of the
new government, their minds were fill NOR.
dtbajGd, and they finally became Gontcmp-
tible herd, universally ridlculed and defpifed
And oh my countrymen, permit me to
urge it home TO you, let theie things have q
proper influence on you. God knows have
no Gniaer view n being thus animated and
importunate with you. But feel, becauit
know the certain eOn/fqHfner of mealures
prolecuted for your defru6tion. am unea.
~ becaufe mankind in general are not "a
we'll acquainted with thefe fonntaiOnJ. Look
over, and leriouly and cautiouly ponder the
above representation of the two different
ifates of Rome. You may perhaps feel as
you read, and iffo you may find (ome bette
improvement than mere hiiioric knowledge
You have been and are ftl brave and virtu
Gus. You have been celebrated for boo
republican fpirt. May heaven for ever pre-
ferve to you this character. But thefe thing:
are greatly dependant on your term of go
vernment. A Roman, exifed noble idea
in republic; in an empire, was only mean
pitiful and contemplate. If after having
read my former numbers, you will cooly
tell me the contribution is nat changed, and
the mealures now purfued will not nrvifObL
i1Et in your deffruefion, you may throw b,
the paper and read no more. But if you
think otherwife, for mercy fake, what, where
are your Should you permit theie new limo
vaGons to grow frong and your old coniiitu-
ton mijtr0bS to decay, in period not far djC
tSnt, you will lofe all posVEr to ahert your
rights as men. But not only 70, with the
contribution every fantiment which now
honours you will die quay, and you will be
as mean and dtlbieabF as you are now the
reverfe. | dare affirm it, and the philosopher
and the hiRorian will believe me, the for
mer, becsuie he knows it is truth foEndtG
in the nature of !hings; the latter, becauh
the experience of ages confirms it, and the a.
bove account of Rome is clear but melan
choly infance. Oh, my counTymen, tht
mjSyiss crouding on you would pity the
inlahS offered you would vsitnt. And he
who made my heart knows the(e are its fen
timens dePrecate from my foul, the idea
of civil wars, confuGon, anarchy, carnage
and blood. But | equally deprecate the
thought Of feeling the contribution given up
witbSm a Rynggt, and this people with
their poferity after them, dragging on a
miferabe exiaence, in curling the chains
inc0nfieEN riVetted on them: And my
PRAYER is, that by prudent, Uiil, e0HfisRS,
dttErmizsd, brGvt, manly and VD1EOHS con-
dua, we may JftHrs, dtffHd and prEltrv1
the firm of government, 70 dearly Purchafed
by our ancefors, that laIeff ages may rife W
and call Us blefed.