The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-02-13
RSDAY, February 13, I772.

" fituation long courfe Of years had
defaced the itamina of the contribution,
and thei. original principles in which il
con6lied, icelned buried amid the rubb IN
of ages. Not only 70, but the municipal
laws were changed, and while they were
encountered with 0lfGati:aJ, taken from
fSysign infitutiols, exhibited quite dlfte-
rent appearance. 1t is true at one period,
the fplrt revived, and Cromwell with bis
GVsrd paved a way for the reftoration OF
freedom but this was merely temporary,
and feryed only to ihow the little remains
of the old Englilh fpirit. The gloom in
created tenfoId at the reftoration, and the
people faftened with thicker chains, could
only remember that Cromwell once exit
ted. Charles the fecond, gay and diiiolute,
facrifced every thing to his pleafurcs. His
fucceiIor the Duke of York, fteady and
bieotted, pro(ecuted the defruetion
of the liberties of the people, in a
more fatal manner. From one fep he pro-
ceeded to another until finally all the barri-
ers of the contribution were broken down.
DifpcnGng powers, new ecclefaitical courts
and grievances too many to DC enumerated,
threatened a total ruin. And had the ma
ton fubmitted until thefe were firmly rect
cd, the tragedy OF Englifh freedom mutt
have been complete. But happily for Eng
land the people chofe to recur to frR prin-
ciples. BY examining the original maxims
of their government, thefe fnaoUaJfsnt were
better feen, and the mae q OGfion better
underRood. Many and glorious are the
tsnjtgHsn:H refulting from this Reduction I;
liberty and the contribution are not only (f-
ard but explained and nndtrja'oG. The
nature of the Englifh government before
this period, was very little known; It's o.
rigin and the compact, 70 frequently men
toned, lay hid in the darkueis OF antiqui-
ty. But now the feveral properties of II
are properly afcertained. Its the VOICE
OF The PEOPLE EXPRESSED IN
PARL!AMEN +, that gives the fovercign
his title. This is ele0rB the foundation of
it, and not thcfe chimerical notions that
puzzled the people in the reigus of princes
preceding the revolution. The rules are
iettIed which lerve as the criterion OF his
actions, and the msafnrs of obligation. 1t
is now abfurd to plague mankind with theie
doctrines when the people can yemrnbsr
what brought in the prefent family, and
while they are fenGble. that they alone fur
nilhed thofe gems that glitter in the crowns
of their monarchs, and give them their
pre-eminence. The act of fettlement, too
we'll known to be expatated on, confirms
and individually efabliihes all thole rights
a free people can. deiire, and while it pre-
vents a monarch from tyrannizing and en-
Having, gives him every Prerogative that
can make him venerable and luxurious.
There is a ftriking infance alfo of this
truth in the provinces of the Netherlands
their privileges were great, and in 1880
they were conffituted ore OF the ten circles
of the empire. But il is truth founded
on obfervation, fate that makes any pre-
,enGons to freedom is LsSksd on Scifb jfaL0gLy-
Charles the fifth invaded and very fevereIy
attacked many of their rights his fon
Phillip the fecond, King of Spain, follow
ed the fame plan, and very materially al
tered their contribution. The people OF
the provinces faw this, and were of opinion
il was high time there fhould be redue-
,ion and that thefe excrefencies fhould be
topped off. This they dared undertake un-
der the moR embarrsfing circumstances
IMAGINABLE awed By foidierY quartered
! among them and commanded BY AlVz ar