The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-04-08

s1lyH@S one hand, have roundly ad-
vanced, that the very notion OF supremacy
Implies a power above the reach Of the law,
that the allegiance we profeis ourfeIves bound
70 nav the monarch, as head ofthe body Po-
litic, efficiently indicates his fuperiority. and
thar he is accountable to none, fave the Deity
alone. for the decentralization OF public
affairs. On the other hand, there have not
been wanting men who have pleaded the
cauGe of Liberty with equal ardour and fill
more fucce.s; they have Investigated the
feh principles Of government, reduced tnat
bsanch OF politics 20 fcience, and, from
ssrtAin iuR axioms, have deduced interences
IN fsyout Of the supremacy, rights, privileges,
SSu power Of the PKoPLE.
If a csule ike this food indebted to great
names for a fanetion, in the catalogue OF
opooies to kingH tyranny, we might re-
eoust Milton, Sydney, HamPden, Lccke,
aad others but it receives an additional
.s...;sh, when Il 10 conGdered, that the ienti'
se,s q .hsie- msn aye only transcripts OF
vs,..con(ai.uie ion, which 10 founded up
the BATS of mutual compact between
KING and people, and which every
Ihcre fuppoies the SoveIeign's power check
and limited BY certain laws, and which
.a,s him as a mseiftrate accountable TO the
IeopIe fos his aaious, and liable to ceniure
lar his milcendu&.
kw t.ue, shere have been many re'gns
k..,h;~h ,hefe fundamental principles, and
( fau,arv rfaxins Of our governments have
been fparned at BY the prince, and overlook
"A B, the people. The government ot 7en-
. the eighth, Eliz4belh and James the hit,
are cafes in poiat bus even IN thoie times,
fore champions we're always found ready to
a,n forth IN defence of civil, as well as reli-
cus liberty, and sxpofe the ridiculous doctrine
.bou, hereditary right, and Kings, as God
V,eeveseuts, being accountable to him only,
ina, led into the minds Of weak princes BY
Cour, parafites. This il was that paved
chs wav for that revolution which, u we
youA have King, eircumlOTibed his power
w,,nin the boundaries OF law.
Confderirg the temper and genius OF the
EnrIifh, IL is happy for monarchs that 'he''
rowex is thuslimRed the bright jewels OF
crown are apt TO dazzle the fight and turn
the head of the weaIer. Hence ne Is ou'
eoo muct, inclined to give way to an annol'l'
, On WHICH might prove detrimental to DIS
A,h;eAs. and fatal 10 himfelf; but when
hi.iine Of aaion is marked out BY the Law
A;s errors cannot be involuntary, they mutt
ne vigul, and as fuch they deierye ehaitile'
rens from that power which ieaied him on
ne throne to fuperiniend the pubic COOS.
The hifory Of all ages viii convince US
tAat Kings cannot be TOO much consrosled
eur own chronicles, in particular, abound
With inilances Of he mileFies produced b
tufline 70 TIE royal word, or even oath o
our K.rss Il would mortify msjefy TO fs'
sheSx inAsness arranged in ienss, and
would give msnkind moR contemplate o
pinirn Of monalchs 20 be ted, that there 4
u no tie civil, fsered, Or religious, which, at
moments waning they have NOT readily dIl
penled, with, when fuch eondu6f woGl'
y send to snaave their iptjees, TO- advance
shs:r avn arbitrary puypcfes, cd under