The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-03-25

Ing drAHghe OF initructionS TO their Representa-
tive. viz.
" To Mr. JONAS SroNR. representative for the
town Of Lexington.
"SIR,
/" 1T is not to call in queaion your cspaci-
~, difpoftion or fidelity, of our elimation OF
which, we have given the fullea evidence. in
the choice we have made Of you 20 rePreient
Us, in the General Court of this province; but,
10 exerciGng our right of intru6ing our repre-
tentative, TO open our minds freely to you, up
on matters, which appear unto Us intereiting to
ourfelves, to the province and potefity, and to
Arengthen and confirm you in mealures, which
I've TRULY your own judgment would have lug
geiled as necefary and important to our COM
mon fafety and PROPERTY, though we had been
flent.
Our worthy snceRors, after many &ruggles
with their enemies, ia the face of every danger
and at the expence of much neaiufe and blood,
lecured to themfelves and tranfmitted to US
their po2erity, a fair and rich inheritance, not
only of g pleafani and fertile land, but ALTO of
invaluable rights and privileges, both as men
aad chriftians as lated in the royal charter OF
this province, and fecured to US by the faith Of
the Britiih crown and kingdom.
As we hold due allegiance to our rish1ul
Sovereign King George LII. and arsI4ady
with our lives and fortunes, to fuPpors fiK Jug
and coniti.uticnal government 70 we Oak up.
on ourielves as bound, BY the mott iacre& ltseR
tothe utmoft Of our power, 70 maintain and de-
| fend ourielves in our charter rights snd privi-
leges, and o. ficred tuR committed 20 us,
TO tranfmit them inviolate 90 fucceedins psnsra-
tons,
I" Il is the general voice, at leaf of the more
thinking and iudicious among us, that our char
ter sig6b and i6~fieJ are in danger, are IN.
fringed And upon a mott careful, ierious and
mature confederation of them, a. ttased IN our
e6arfsr, and comparing them with acts OF the
Britilh parliament, and meaiuTes adopted BY the
BritlG Cert, minifry and government, rslat-
ing to this, and other A@~ifas colonies, lone
of which have been carried into execution g.
monR rs, we are clearly Of opinion, that they
been for fome time paR, and are, at pre-
TENT. greatly infringed and violated hereby in
various inRances. And though meafures have
| have been gone into, from time to time, BY the
honorable council and houie OF sepreientatiyes
of the province, for relief and redres; yet 10 tar
from being fucceisful, our grievances ieem 70 In
create, and be more and more iniolerable, every
day.
:" The unhappy and diareiing effects Of the
meafures referred TO, are too many 70 aomit'
and too well known and felt to require Partl-
eular mention. But we cannot forbear observing
the glaring contraR, which in fome intance''
is % befeeu between our charter and the reioives
and acts of the Britih parliament, Eefpeetins
the people of this province, as well as other Co
lonies,
" The charter grants 10 our General Court
/" full power and authority, from time to time
10 make. ordain and eaabifh, all mannerotreaion-
able laws, sc. and thst luch laws So. not being
difallowed by the King, within three years,
fhsll remain in foil force, until the expiration
hereof, oruatil repealed by the lme authority.
But the Britih parliament have rslolved, that
they have right to make laws binding upon
the colonies in all cafes whanoever :" SO that
whenever they pehe to carry this re-
foive into execution, they may, by another re-
| folse psifed into an act, by one powerful ttroke
vacate all our charEefs, and, in moment, daih
all our laws out of exifence, or bury them toge-
ther in one common ruin
By the charter, tn. RICH, Of taxing the
people is lodged in the General Court OF the
provi.ce; land we think excluGsely > Be. the
late reYeeus act, which have been with 10
macy erfgns CT power and terror, in open vio-
lation Of the laws and libeitiss of this people,
put 10 execution by the CommiGioners Of the
csRoms, this right is clearly iafringed, and the
oe.se. put into and exe:ciIed by Other hands.
ss By the charter, we are veiled VITA al the
rights and Liberties Of Brititiih fubjeds, oae Of
! wSich we kcow il ia Msgna ChsiIs, declared