The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1772-11-12
Il. f9vemoer IL.


> Re public diHentions, and of the incon-
Lnienciss and diltrefs with which this
Fovince is loaded, | cannot but mott Gn-
erely lament the diftrehed fituation of our
mbHc affairs. And, as there is not any
hAance of a lawful Houie of Commons
Iaying ever appropriated, and cauied mo-
lev 20 be liTued for public fetvices, of their
bic authority, and againR the coofsnt of
inc other branches Of the legilature. or
Even having, at any time, clsimed luch q
bower 70 upon the principles of our con-
titution, of law and OF reaion, i, cannot
be allowed that any commons houie of AZ.
fmbIy of tbs province Can or ought to
lave any fuch power.
$ Careful as | am not to invade the
konfftutional rights of a commons houie of
knsmbly, il is my Indlipenfibe duty to
Endea YOUR to prelerve. to each branch OF
khe legih4ture its native powees OF leglhl-
zion Ard do earnefly with that the
xeiehty affairs of this province may be de-
libeIated upon, and trania6tsd with that
hulH patriotic fpifit which can, with mag
nanimity. condemn and abandon any mea-
Iure that is an alien to, incompatible with,
and deitruefive of, the rights and powers
pf that mole Of legiAation from which our
pwn is modelled and from which, alone,
The people of this province derive all their
liberties as Engliih fubje6fs, and all thofe
rights, privileges, and powers of legina-
Ition, which can be legally exerciled by
their representatives in General AAenbly.
Sc BY as much as you all prize and value
the rights of Englifh fubjsas, by 70 much
Ilet it be your care to denronHrate by acts,
(which are of much more confequence than
lwords, a due venerstion of that form and
Ifpirit OF government which has granted and
now regulates and preferves III ole invalua-
bic privileges TO the inhabitants of this pro,
vince. AS it is your interef to preferve,
to each branch of the leg failure, fuch pow.
ers as are peculiar or Common to each: In
this cafe the faircf means to preierve the
contributions TO MAINTAIN esch particular
part of it involate. Innovations are dam
gerous they are, in general, lure to create
contentiont which, unhappily for mankind,
500 often make quick progreis to anarchy /;
wherefore let ire recommend to you, IN the
Rrongef te ms, that you be careful to en-
desvour, to annihilate any innovation
which, BY violating conaitntional privil
Ieges- of i~gsfl-rioH, thsseAy-- e.ridenfiy tend
20 defroy that happy poifc of power which
is the peculiar charseferitfic and palladium
OF legislature founded upon, and sfimi-
lated as nearly as may De, TO principles OF
Briuih leglflation, the conititutional fpirit
of which is 70 admirably tempered and
compounded thar nothing Gao endangcr
or hart it but attempts and innovations cal
culatec to detiroy the equilibrium Of power
between one branch of the egihlture and
the ref.
" The commons houie of Aitemoly
claiming to iflue monies for PUBIC ierv.ces'
OF their lole authority, has 10 alarming
tendency. that it cannot be too anxloIhy
guarded aeainf Such meafure is evident
II capable Of deilsoyirg and overtu'nIng
very fun5amcnt principle of that confti'
tation of government which is the envy OF
admiring nations. To perfit in fuch an
unconRrutional claim, would be, in ef-
feet, to declare defign to acquire power
which is inconfifcnr with the Engilh con-
ffitutioE a meaiure which in the natural
coDfsquences Of things, is pregnant with
the mcR formidable and certain dangers 10
tie true iltsrefis Of the people Of this pro-
vince. But to snnihiate an uncoaffItuti-
onaI claim is moR yirtuous and mott hon
Durable: Such proceeding is the mott in
fallible criterion Of true patriot and wife
fenator. By fuch condua you will, in
the moA lzudabIe manner, dacharge your
duty to your King, to your country, and
TO yourlclves. am willing TO hepe for
fuch difinguilhing proof Of true Pairio-
rim from, this commons houie of AIM