The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-06-03
RSDAY, JUNE ), 1878.

Icaution, been betrayed into any thing lac
the fhadow of virtue,
will venture to affirm, that our liber'
ties have never at any former period, been
invaded with an equal profpe6 OF fuccefs.
The greatef advantage the tyrants OF ear
lier ages could boat, were bat temporary
and precarious. The heroes that dfgrace
the prefent era feem to have fucceeded in
luIling to ref that watchful (pirit Of oppo-
fitian to, illegal meafures by which alone
the contribution has been maintained, and
with whole extinction it mutt perth. 1t
would feem too, that providence as Judg-
ment on our INDECENT acquiefcence with
their Infamous deiigns, had taken part with
our oppreGors. Ellie to what hidden caui !
es fhalI we refer the uniform fuccefs OF
meafures whole intention was not more de-
teffable than their execution has been ridi-
culous while plans of operation at once
the meh judicious and mott public fPirited,
have been attended in every inifance, with
disappointment. The Americans have
been ftarved into difgrzcefu capitulation.
The remonftrances of the Englifh have
been received and neglected with all the
cool carelefnefs Of refolute difdain. The
firft fetvant of the people has dared to def.
pfc their petitions, and by contemptuous
difavowal of all intention OF redIefing their
grievances tacitly called upon them to
right themfelves. Yet careIefs at once Of
the future, and forgetfui of the paff, the
repetition Of injuffice has ferved but to en-
create their fnbmffon. And while every
oppriiion that excited their complaints re-
mains aggravated with the poiiitive denial
of redrefs, they aa as If they had miRaken
the effect for the caufe land coniidered thefe
very complaints as their only grievanc
Upon what principle fhall we account for
this Rrange defertion of their deareh int
reRsl pretend not, for my owa part, to
the lpirit of political divination, nor will
the plain light Of common fenfe fufice to
inform me from what caules effects 70 mi
raculous have riGen /; that Engliihmen,
with the memory OF glorious revolution
frefh in their minds, fhould tamely acqui.
efce in infuIt added TO injuffice. and blels
their oppreEors that they are fufefed to cat
the bread Of infamy in peace.
II would ieem that familiarity had foften
ed the features of Aavery, and that on
nearer approach her uiual horrors had ceaf-
ed to attend her. The miniRry at length
proceed in their career, without even the
APPEARANCE Of an opPoiition. Thofe whole
fituation has made it their duty to inform
the people Of every encroachmeht of their
liberties, act as if they had delefted the
czdle of freedom in defpair. The body Of
the nation are happy that they hear no
longer Of grievances and approximations. OF
grievances continued win every inGulting
aggravation and approximations reduced at
length to fatal certainty. Like heedlefs
mariners, they glide fecure over the deceit
ful furface ignorant or regardless OF the
ruin that turks beneath. They per-
fuade themfelves that all muff be fate where
all is quiet, and fear no danger where they
meet with no diffurbanee. Villains in the
mean time efcape the vengeance they de-
ferve, and ciinnes ffeai into precedent, that
ftfikes at the vitals of the contribution. A
few years bid fair to deHroy the work OF
ages at once the noblef monument Of the
valour of our ancefiors, and the feveret APP
Proach on their degenerate defendants.
The enemies Of their country fee their ex-
ecrable Undertaking, fipen beyond their
hopes, and Rsrtle with aRonihment that
the sblrfdity Of the execution has not frul-
rsted their vilIainous dehgns. When
were the bcf concerted fyffems Of policy
10 fortunate When was the wIidom of
former administrations equally fucceisfu
with TIE folly Of The prsfsnl J Ths Annals