The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-11-11

n
this nssv sdiei, with fundamental principles
when the courts mott obtequious Juffice
I Backbone, who has condricsnded to be-
/ flow :;x,y pages on vIncicatIon ofthe par
\ liament's dtings in the affair of the Middle
\ Eek election, did no more than barely recite
| the facts III this cafe. IS II is manifeff
eoniequcnce OF the liberty and indepen-
| dence OF nations, fays VAtell, p. 1913, 5 81,
| that al! have tight to be governed as they
/ think proper, and none have The leaR au.
| thority to interfere in the government of n
\ mother fate. OF all the rights that belong
to nation, lovereignty is, dcubdeis, the
mott precious, and that which others ought
the mott fcrupulouay to relpea if they would
not do it an injury" And the latter part of
s 81 following, declares, that " foyereign
(felf governing) fate, cannot be conRrained
10 this refpea, except it be from . particu-
lar right which the fate it(elf has given to
Others by treaaies and even in this cafe, in
fubjea of such importance as that of go
sernment, this right cannot be exts4ded be-
yond the clear and expreis terms OF the trea-
ties" Now in order to found the claim OF
\ the Brilifh parliament to interfere in the leait
degree in the government of this free Rate,
it behoves them 20 produce a treaty contain
ing fome fuch ifipuasion. No FAY they,
you are fubjeas Of the nation from the be-
/ ginning. With much Difference to fuch
profound juriRs, ! would anfwer, the init
grantees of this province were at that time
/ as fovereign Lords,i. c. had their proporti
onal iha,e in competing the foyereign pow
er of the Britilh commonwealth, as any o.
4 Their commones their neighbours, and could
1 not politely have conceived that they were a.
bout to divefl themielyes of any right, privi-
Iege or immunity they derived from nature
| or the contribution of their country, when
1 they went at their own expenee, to take poi
i f.flion of new world. Indeed il is as diff
| cult to conceive how the commons Of Great
Britain become entitled either TO the do
\ main or sovereignty, the property in, or ju.
kjfdialon7eyer one inch of America, az the
q bmmons % Ireland, the Hanoverians or
: JNincfqufHJ The fole fhadow for this ex-
kzHgahEeIaim is, that clauSs in the
barter, wherein the Legislative here are re-
II : "a from making any lawsnrepugnant
II "e laws and Ratutes of Great Britain.
Il y any mortal ffrain this to mean any more
dehgn of the laws of Great Britain, whole
iavarlable fcope was the prefervation of the
lie, liberty civil and religious, property. and
free trade Of the fubjea. For how in the
name of common fenfe, could our legislative
be Invelted with the power of making Sc all
lasv'" tor the ordering and governing the Gate,
1t Notwithstanding, another fate might make
and imPole what laws fhe thought fit, at plea
L inre or to what end was the great and esner-
al court authorized to name and feule annually
al ti0il affair, Judges cOmmiflioners of Oy-
er and Terminer, iherifs, prOvoas, marfhss,
| juitices of the peace and other officers to the
council and courts of juRice excepted) as ALTO
the admiralty courts, and to let forth the fever
al duties, powers and limits Of every fuch off
Ger, and Puniih their neglect or tranisrefiOn If
whole legions of officers may be impoled upon US
OF which the court know neither the name,
Numbers nor limitations J Why the rights of
imPoiing and levyiDg taxes upon the efsa,e, and
perions OF all and every che Psopriesors and In
naoitant' OF the province or territory uneis they
the representatives of faid proprietors and inh.-
oitants, were the proper grantors of iaid taxes
And why the iuPPort and defence of the govern.
ment rePoied in them if they were unfui,sble for
ireha dePOfit . Let the Briih rehabilitation
thew us one Single aipulaiion to reyerfe all thin,
or let them take hame to themfeIves. abandon
their uiurPasions, Withdraw their emiAaries, for
bear to levy any further military esstri5ssies,
upon us, sad fufer ~ 20 enjoy 1he fruits Of ca,
honeG induary in that peace and tranquility
with the author of cur being has rendered cur
unaiienabe birth right snd then let the world
determine, whether we are not as loyal and affec-
tionate iubjee' Of the crown ofGrea BriIain, and
moreover, whether we fhall not on all occa6ons
manifett Thorough regard for the honouy OF our
king and zeal for the dcEence Of .....,. -. :