The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-02-18
For the MAssAcHvsETrs S Y.
Mr.. THOMAS,
Peaie to inieit ihe following. !

NiOH ProTsHf p0!!fNna, nV III grdViera
tanquam az faeils toAsrantibH' impasnfar.
TAG.
OUCH are the rhinous exertions of un
y conaitutional powers on the, part of ad-
miniRraton, that every lover of liberty muh
be deeply appreheniive for the fate of poHe
rity. Among the mott alarming inroads
made upon the fecurIty of the fubjea, that
of sfixing aipends to the Offices of the Juf
tees of the Superior Court in this province,
! apprehend to be the noff dangerous The
pure and impartial admi+iara,on of juRite,
fays an elegant writer, is perhaps the firm
eft bond to fecuTe cheaiful iubmiiEion of
the people, and to engage their affections TO
government Ii is NOT iuficeut that quef
tons of ptirste right or wrong are jufily
decided, nor tina, judges are hyperion to the
vileneis of pecunaty corruption. 'ffsiir'
hmfelf, when the court had no intelelt, was
an upright Judge. A court of jaiilce may
be fObjed to anoihes fort OF bias, more i'm
portant and pernicious, as il reaches be, oDd
the intereR of individuals, and sfeGis The
whole community. A judge, under The in
Auence of government, may be honelt e.
nough in the decilion Of private cauics, yet
a traitor TO the public. When vieilm is
marked out, the judge will offer himfelf to
perform the facrihce. He win not fctuple
to protilute his diguitY, and beuay the
fanelity of his office, w!.cnever an arbitrary
point is to be carried for government, or the
reentment of a court TO be grslihed. IL is
worthy obfervation, that the miRaktn prime,
who facri6ced his head to his Iult Of-delpo
tim. who VIC ated the letter and fpirit Of
the BrItifh contribution by taxing his free
born fubje6ts unconienting, inexperienced
Finally paved the way to the icsffoid by cor
rupting the fountain of juttice. Clarendon,
though bigoued ToRY, oblerVes, A" bat
in the 3idom of former times, when the
pterogative went hghef, no court lawyer,
and very ieldom any judge was called upon
TO slilf in an act of power, the crown well
knowing the Importance OF keeping thele the
ENbieets of reverence and veneration with the
h}ople, and that though power might lome-
f2mes make fallies upon them, yet the law
I fhould refrain the people from any lnvaiior
of il, and that the king thould never iufter,
| Whit the Jaw and The judges were looked
upon by the fubjeets as the aiylum Of their
liberties and iecurity: When the barriers OF
the contribution arc broken down, and the
Judges appointed, continued and Imported
at the pieafure of the crown, may not ano.
ther Stuart 6ll the throne, and another JET
lIrif5 be the interpreter Of the law, by which
means the monarch may feVeIely Teyeng'
himfeIf on an unhappy lubjeef, and sxh.b
parade Of jutice. BY making law give 2
fanefion to the mott honld crueties; while
the tymissd DaVsI. who d(grace The feat Of
juaice, ae but dgni6ed butchers, to exc
cute ghe commands of an inhuman tyrant.
HIS Excellency has declared, bis Ma
Ij1qy b0s been piealfd TO Ordar that Eaiarit'
GoA be alotOsd TO fbs JEjliey Of the SR-
psyisv Court This important intelligence
is at length wrung from the bolom of the
I6rR MsgiRrate, the representatives of thai
people among whom they are TO difPencs
julice, that people who nftulionally
mould frame all laws by their proxies, to
which they fhoud yield obedience; and
that people who have maintained to
blood, the application Of thofe laws to parti-
cular facts and cafes on their jury fribRn0L ;
jealous offo glaring an invshon of Iheir mott
importantintereAs, have remonfrated againft
this meafure of government, and at The fame
time made an adequate provllion for the no.
nourable fuppoft OF the jufices Of theSuPeri-
or Court /; his Excellency has conlen'ed TO
thoie grants, and we may prefume that the
Judges have manifefed their fatisfaefion
therein But ffilI perceive thar my covn-
uymen are dihatished, and diGAdshed on
proper grounds there is fiI an ample
faIary from the Bri'ilh government,
within the reach of thefe gentleman