The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-03-11
THU RSD AY, MARCH II, 1873.

Genleo, ana IL you are itill OF opinion tnAt l"
juriididions, each of them having lhae in III
iupreme power, are compatible in tie fame Tia
| IN can be to no purpoie 10 reaion or argue uPo'
the other parts fyour msaase. 1t is enough tt
obierve that this difsgrsenent in our principle
will have its influence upon all the deduction
which are made from them.
will ALTO con6der The Ian mtfage from you
gentlemen Of the houle Of representatives, uPor
the fine iubject, in as few words as the iriPor
lance OF il will admit.
You FAY you have not dilcovered that th'
principles advanced by the town OF Bolton aF'
understandable by the coniIiiulion. Whethe
they are or are not, will depend upon the de-
termination Of the point which you are now
controvering.. Your no. having dilcovered tha
the other towns and difiriet, in the province
were invited blythe town Of Boron TO adoP
their principles. mua proceed from innsttention
Have NOT the doings of that town been ien
through the province, accompanied with cir
culsI leper, ''delifing free communication o
ientiments," and, among other expeditions o
the hike tendency, lsmenting the ex;inetion o.
ardcur for civil and religious liberty il IL ihouc
DC the general voice Of the province, that th'
fights Is Rated do moi belong to them. and trua'
ing that this cannot be the cafe. II this IS mol
tNyi,isg to adopt their principles, have miitAker
thSI isnle and msaning. The eonIequen
Eslngs of 70 many other towns ihtw that they
LShdeEllood them al have done. i An lure
have no difpOftion to repreient unfavourlbl,
the doings 81 asy Town IL the province.
Y6u aiFett &C. that II isthe indifputable right
of all or any Of his Majeay's luhjeHs in this
province rgslzriy ana Srdtrb to meet tose'hei
to Ra,e the grievances they labouf under, &c
never denied il. Does il follow that II II
regular aud srler1 for the inhabitants of towns
in their corporate capacity TO meet and deter
mine upon points which the law gives them nc
power to act upon You have NOT shsrIed thai
il is, but you have not declared that II is not,
as Thought regard to the peace and order Oh
the province made oar duty.
II the fundamentals ofour government were
no, dilputed, thele irreUuIarites would appear tt
you in very itrcng light and you would JOIN
in diEcountenaAciog them.
To fupport your principle that you hold your
lands and derive your suthorily OF government
from the K,se, Of England and not from the
Crsus OF England, you have very largely band.
led the doctrine Of feudal TenuIes. obierved
70 YOU in my IsR fpeech that you had been
mided by the authority Of an anonymous pam
phle.. am nov Obliged to Obfsrve that you
are again mflsd by having general visw Of this
dOStrine brought before you, as it rsiPeets ftaes
ar Governments under ablolute monaichss and
not 4, il il connected with or grated upon the
Rnolifh conaituion. Ihall not therefore ipend
time in examining the principles Of your fyftem
il being immateriAl to the point between US
whether they are iua or not. Inaesd thereof
4 will, In az brief and clear terms as can, lay
this doctrine before you as II relates 10 the
Goverament of England. go
Lss me then oblerve to you, that from the
nature Of government lapreme leginitive power
muR always exia over all the parts and all the
aH.ir, of every dominion- hat in abfolute
monsrchies the 'legilative and executive powers
are united Ia the prince or monMch--tbat in
the Enzlifi contribution there is, and Away.
M, been. slesi1ative power diaina from the
reesl or executive power that tt1s fendal yf-
TEN, In yopr view of Il and without correcting
could NOT be introduced intc the Englilh govern
meat without chaDgine the sonfiiulion from q
mixed to an Absolutely monsrehicsl govern
ment-s that this IyRem nevertheless has been
introduced, the contribution Of a mixed govern
mentsiII femaiding, and cjnfeq1ently the item
"a, BEEN corrected or altered. What this alts-
Iat;ou has been viii appear from hiaorical Eet,.
Before the reign of William the era the traces
Of Feudsl Tenure are faint, the evidence Of q
lssillasive power, an kfembIy or Council Of
vile men, difiina from the regal power Is frons
and lufhcient. After William had obtained the
Gown. the Other sasiOds Of EstO7s being IN