The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-02-25

aud li4tutes of the realm, belieVe you VIII "o'
contend that thefe clsulc, muA mean iuch oa'hs
only rs were wtrrar table at the respective times
when the charters were g snrrd. il has often
been found necciiiry; iince the daJe OF the char
ters to alter the forms of the oaths to the govern
msnt BY acts Of parliament. and luch alterations
have always bsen conformed to IN the Plan
tstions.
I.sit you ihculd think that admit the su'ho'
rity of king Charles the fecond in giving ma al
fent to an act of the sHsmby OF Virginia, which
you fnbion to the authorities of ames the hrtt
and Charles the fra, to have any weight mu's
obferve TO you that do fee any greiier IN
conlifency with Magma charts in the kings CIV
ing mis- ahent to an act of fubordiaste lsgiila'
ture, Immediately or in perion then when ne
does it medis.ely by his Governor or iuoititute
but, il il oorIl be admitted tha; fuch an alien
difc avered the kings judgment that Virgins wa
independent, would you lay any itfes upon
when the fame king was from time to time CIV
ing his Silent to sets Of parliament which inter
red the dependence of all the colonies, and haS
by one of thofe acts declared the Plsn'atiors z
be Inhabited and peOpled BY hisMsj;ity'' iueIee'
ofEnglsndi
gave you no reafin to remark upon the 40
fu dity of a grant to perlon: DO within th'
realm of the fsme liberties which would have
belonged to them if they had been born within
the realm, but rather guarded asaint 1t BY con
idering iuch grant as decllrltory only and II
the nature of an aAnrance that the plantation
would be conG1ered as the dominions OF Eng
land. Blu is there no ablurdity in grant from
the K ng of England Of the Liberties and immu
niles of Englilhmsn to per ons born in and VIII
are 10 inhabit other territories than the dominion
of Eng md, and would fuch grant, whether b,
charter or other letters patent, he iuSicient {
make them Unbeatable, or to intitle them to IN
other liberties and immunities of Englilhmer
in any part of the Engliih dcpinions
AS am wi ling 10 reit the point between U
upon the plantations having been, from thei
hrf diicovery and (etIlement under the crown
par: of the dominions Of England, fh,ll no
take up any time in remGrkihg uPcn your agu
ments to thew that Goce that time, they canno
have been made part of thole dominions.
The remaining parts Of your anfwer are prin
cipally intended 10 prove that, under DO h char
tiers, il hath been tn. ienle of the people tina
they were no, (ubjed to the jurfdietion Of parlia
ment, and, forthis pu -POie, you have made larg'
exrsetS from The hiiiory Of the colony. Will
ECU arc doiog homer to the book, by layipg car
ersfs upon It's authority, It would hsve'besn y,
moe ,han iuffice % the author il you had, ci.et
lone other p.fsse. which would have >tel O.
TO reconcile the p4hage, in my lpeech TO tire hii
tory II hsve (aid thar, exoepy 40 'ut the tim
o. the anarchy which preceded the reforation o
King Chares the lecor i, | have not dIlcoveret
nat the authority Of parliament had been Gales
n qasltion even b. particular Perfons. Ii was
IS | take i, from the principles imbbed in ,hoi
times Of anarchy chat the rerions of Influence
mentioned Ia the hiaOry, difpu ed the suthorit
of pa'liameHt, bur the Government would no
venture to diipute it. On the conTery,in fou
or five years after the rsltoEaiioD, the governor
declared to he Kings comm lIoners that the az
of navigation had been for icme years obleIvet
here, that they knew not Of its being great,
violated and that fuch laws as appeared 10 be =
gaini it were repealed. Il is not ltiange tina
the(e psrfIns of Influence ih2uld prevail upoI
great par, of the people 20 fax in, for time witt
their opinions and fupPof- acts of the colorJ
nectlsry to give force to acts of parliament
the government. however, feyertl years befor,
the charter was vacated. more explicitly scknow
lodged the authority Of parliament and voted tina
their Governor h,uld take the cath, required o
him, faithfully to do and peform all natter
ard things enjcihed him by the acts Of trade
have not recited in my fPeech all theIe psti
culars, nor had them all in my mind bur,
think, / have aid nothing inconGftept will
them. M p nciples in government are It'll The
fame with whit they appear to be in the bool
you refef to, ncr am | cOnlcious thar. by any par
OF nav conduit, have given caule 10 uegsi
the contrary.
Inafnuch usycu FAY that have not particula
rIy pcbcted out to you the acts and doines of thu
General AGembly which rslste 10 acts Of Parlia
ment, will 60 it now, and demonGrate to YOU
that fuch sefs have been acknowledged by tn,