The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-06-17

f Representatives,, IN this province, s's
wiling to do all in our power, that your
hands may be Strengthened, and your en-
deavours iucceeded at this critical and
farming conjunaule of our public affairs,
therefore take shis opportunity 10 let you
know our icntiments thereon, and wfss we
think necsdary TO procure redrels: h's,
we believe will be agreeable to you, that as
you arc inclined, 70 you may be able to an
fwer our reafonable expectation from you.
/" We look upon it, tina. our rights and
liberties, as Eoghlhmen, are infIinged upon
| by a number of unconstitutional edIetS, that
nave of late pailed in the BriIlh parliament,
which would DC needless for US at this DAY
70 partcularize to you; and we have Fealot
fear, that without the deiign of our melt
gracious fovereign, an ion Joke is PreParl' G
for our necks, whereby being ftripPed of ou'
Important privileges, we may DC f2itensc
down in hopeIels, inecoyerable bondage.
" We theIetore inltluef you, as our repre-
! sentative, to ufe your influence in the hon.
tIoule, Of which you are member,i in con
fitutional way, TO have our grievances redlef-
ed, land that the prelent unhappy difputes anG
differences thar iublilf between Great Bfi
lain and the colonies may fubiide, and thai
they may be united in harmony, and love
aronger and firmer thaneyer.
{" We alto inarua You, that you endea
your that petition of light be Prefented &c
ms Msjefy; and We have reafon to hope,
lince there has been 70 happy change in
the American department, that fuch an ore
may now reach his Msjefy's mott gracious
ear. And we lhould be exceeding glad thai
his ExcelIency might be prevailed upon C
Join in fuch petition, and uie his influence
with his Msjefy in our favour.
" We further inRrua you, TO do all in
your power, that the governor and the
Judges of our hyperion court, have fuch pro.
siiion annually, made by this province fol
heir lupport, as is equal TO the dignity and
Importance of their REFLECTIVE Offices.
We eiteem il our honour and intereh to
remain in connection with our mother coun-
| Try, if we can, in the enjoyment of our
tights and privileges: We have already done
and fuffered much in this land for the com
mon caule, and if proper requIiiions
were made fhould be willing to do more (;
yea, we are willing to run all hazards for
he common good OF the empire.
a,"iWe can facrihce our ueafure and our
blood in the caufe Of King and country SuI
we cannot prove fuch traitors to God, our
ielves and our country, as actually to make
facfihce of our fundamental privileges, ii
oeries, and good confidence, to the arbi
trary pleafure of any man or number Of
men this is too great facri6ce and vain.
y TO be expected. For that we judge
would be inconiiRent with the laws of ma
ture, the gteatlaw of felf preervation, bound
upon US by our maker. Or if we had q
light By the law of nature to exchange on;
freedom for ilavery, yet in fate of 60
vernment, and as members of free com
nunity and kingdom we cannot do it, be.
caule in this fate we hold our Liberties anG
privileges, jointly and in common with tn,
ref of our fellow fubjeas, and therefore
cannot give them up without betraying ihofe
of the community and kingdom, to which
we belong, and which we are bound with
life and fortune to prelerve; nor can w
give them up, confident with the affection,
care, and duy which we owe to our pofe-
rity, whole natural birth.rights they are
They are ours to enjoy and ours in trua to
keep, but not to give up. And hall we by
any means be acceAary of betraying the in.
valuable rights to which our children are
born, and of entailing wretched Aavery on
our poferity, born and unborn, to the la,efi
generation this would be to them a