The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1772-12-31
NUMB. %.
: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 81, 177a.

q
lbelleds Their city was at Taft taken BY
Plauiius the & nf4l, after their leader Vitrp-
vius and gfeatnumbeis of their ienate and
people had been killed being reduced 20 a
low condition, they feat ambsiiadoTs toRome
20 deire peace; where when fenaior afk-
ed them what punifhment they deieryed,
! one Of them an(wered, The fame which
!" they deferve who think ihem(elves wor-
1" thy of liberty" The conlui then de-
.manded. 6 what kind OF peace rnigha DC
:" expected from them, If the punlfhmept
I" fhould be Iemiited !" The ambanador
anf~ered, :" II The terms you give be gOgas
'''the peace will be obierved by " faithful
ly and perpesually, IL BAD 10 will fonn
" be broken" And though leme were
offended with the fesociiy Of the anfwer ret
che beR part of the lenate approved IL as
/" worthy Of d man. and freemans' and
conIefing tliaf no man on nation would con.
Ilinue under annneafy condition longer than
they were compslled by force, faid, !" they
/" only were ft to be madenRbmans. WIN
!" lhought' nothing valuable but liberty"
Upon which they were all made citixcns Of
Rome, and obtained Whatsoever they had
deEred: Ht t9 es
s. know nee how this matter can bc
leartied 60 a greater height !, for If it wers
pofibes that people teGiiing oppsefIion.
aud undressing rfeir own liberty. could
conimita crime, and incur. either guilt OF
infsny, che Priverpsses did, who had been
often fubJued, and often, pardoned; baf e
ven ia the judgment Of their conquerers
whom they had offended, the reloIusion
they profelIed Of Handing to no agreemers
impOfed upon them By DeceAity, was ac-
counted the higHeR teAimony Of fuch a win.
tue as rendered them worthy to be admit.
ted into a fociety and equality with them-
felves, who were the moA brave and yirtn.
Gus people Of the world.
+" But if the patience Of conquered
people may have limits and they who viii
not bear opprefion from thofs who had
(pared their lives. may deicrve praifc and
reward from their coDquerers, Il would b
madnefs to think, that any nation can be
obliged to bear whatfoever their own ma
giRrates think fit to Go sgainft them. This
may feem FRANCE to ihoie who talk 70 much
Of conqueRs made by kings; immuni,ies.
liberties and privileges granted 20 cations,
oashs Of allegiance taken, and wonderful
benefits conferred upon them. But having
already laid as much a. il ncedful concern.
ing conquefs. and that the hssilfrase who
has nothing exceps what Is given to him.csn
only difPenle out Of the public aock fuch
franchiles and privileges as be has received
for the reward of fefyices done to the connA
try, and encouragement of virtue, fbzll AZ
Peient keep myielf 10 the two laii points, 5
{" Allegiance fgni6es no more fas the
words 0d kgGm declare) than foeh an obs.
dience as the law requires. But as the Las
Can require nothing from the whole people.
who are matters Of it, allegiance can only
relate to particulars. and NOT 10 the whole.
No oath can bind any other than thoGe who
take i, and thar only in the true fenfe and
meaning Oft: But fingle men only take this
oath, and therefore firgle men are only OBJ.
Iiged to keep il (: The body of people nei-
ther does, nor can perform any fuch aa:
Agreements and contacts have been mades
as the tribe Of judah, and the ref Of EfrasI
afterward, made a covenant with David.
upon which they made him King; but no
wife man can think, thzz the nation, did
thereby make them(elves the creatures Of
their own creature.
:" The 6snfe ALTO Of "a oath oosht to be
ccniidefed. No man can BY an oath be OBJ.
ligsd to any thing beyond, or contrary 70
the true meaning Of IL: Private men who
fwear obedience ad legem. fwea no obsd.-