The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-02-04
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1773.

supreme or unlimited authority can VIII
.6,nels belong only to the fovereign Of hi
univerie: And that 6tnels is desived from
the perfection of his Nature. TO (uch au
thority, directed by infinite wifiom and ion
mite eoodneis, is due both active and paiiiv'
obedience: Which Is /, conh,aies the haPpi
nefs of rational creatures, fhould with cheer
fulne(s and from choice be unlimiledly paid BY
them. But with truth this can be faid Of nc
other authority whatever. If then from the
nature and end of government, the Iupreme
authority of every Government is limited
the fupreme authority of parliament mutt
be limited and the enquiry will be whs
ara the limits OF that authority with regard
to this colony ITO fix them with precifi
on, 70 determine the exact lines Of tight anc
wrong in this cafe, as in fome others, is daft
ficult and we have not the prelumption &c
sstemp, il. But we humbly hope, that az
we arc perlonally and relatively, in our Prl'
vate and public capacities, for our(elves, fo'
the whole province and for all Poferity, &c
deeply intereRed in this important futjeei, il
will aot be deemed arrogance to give fom,
general fenIinnents upon il, Especially as YOU
Excellency's fpeech has made it ablolutel,
rasce1ary. .g@ l
|o1ser this purpofe we liall recur to thOf'
tItESHs that contain the main principles or
swkbh the Engliih contribution Is founded
and from them make flesh extracts as arc
pertinent TO the fubjeA.
Magma lCharta declares, Sc than no did
ihall be impofed in the Kingdom, unlefs BY
the common council Of she kingdoms ex.
cept to redeem the Kings perioa, &c." And
that +" all cities, boroaghs, towns and ports
thall have their liberties and free cuffoms
ADD lhall have the common council Of the
Kingdom concerning the aGslIment Of their
AIDS, except in the cafes aforelsid.
The Gaiu,e of the gath Of Edward ]. dc
tallsgio non concedendOs declares" that no
.tallagc or aid fheuld be laid or letelIed by
the KING OF bis heirs 10 the realm, wi,hou,
the good will and a6eat oFlhe Arch Biihops,
BIlhops, Earls, Barons, Knights, Burgeaes,
and other the free mea Of the commonalty
af this FeaIm."
A aatu,e of the Is Ed. 8 euaas sc that
from thenceforsh no perlon ihallbe compel
ledfo make sny loans to the King againfl
bis ~iIl, becauie fach loans were againl rea-
ION and the franchife of he land"
The petition Of rights in the sd of Charlie!
ttf, IN which are cifed che two foregoing
aatutes, declares that by thoie " Statutes, anr
other good laws and Rataies of the realm
his MsjsRy's Iubje6fs inherited this freedom.
that they mould not be compelledto contri-
butte 10 any tar, taIIsge, aid, or osbesIiks
charge, not II by common confentNof Par
lament" And the fistAtc of the Tif Of VIII
liam 4, for declaring the rights and liberties
of the fubjeA and fetsling the fuccefsOn Of
the crown Declares /" that the levying oil
money for or to the uie of the crown, by
preteuce Of preroga,iVe without grant oil
parliament, for longer time, or in any Other
manner then the fame Is o. lhall be granted,
10 Illegal"
From iheie authorities Il sppesss an e.
fentizI part of ihe Englilh eontfisssion, that
no iallages or cid. or tax Ibsll be laid OF ie-
We'd Sc without the good will and aiIsnt Of
the free men Of the eommonally of the
realm" Iffhis could be done without their
aHenr, their property would be 10 the bigheft
degree precaEious 5 or rather tbey could not
with 6tnes be laidto have any property az
all. Az beR they'wOuId be only the holders
of It for the u(s Of the crown ; and the
crown be 10 faa the real proprietor. This
would be vsG.Ilage in the. extreme from
which The generous nature at Enelllhmen
has been 20 abhoHeDt, that they have bed