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

improper, and Criminal, 90 tar az any olah
aSrocious nature have taken place, we would
exprefs our abhorencc of them: And as we
have always done hitherto, we lhalI CONT
nue. to do, every thing in our power to DIFF
courage and fuppreis them. But it is vain
to hope that this can be done sffeetaally 70
long as the caufe of the unealinels which
occahoned them exits.
Your Excellency will perceive that the
caufe you afign is by US fuppofed TO be an
effea derived from the original caufe above
mentioned: The removal of which will re-
move its effects.
To obtain this removal, we agree with
you in the method pointed out in your
fpeech, where you FAY, "the manner Of OBJ
tanning redreis mua be by approximations
and endeavours in fuch ways and forms as
the contribution allows, in order 70 make a.
ny matters aledged to be grievances appear
to be really fuch." This method has been
purified repeatedly. Petitions to parliament
have gone from the colonies, and from this
colony in particular; but without fuccefs.
Some of them, 10 a former miniRry,r were
previouly hewn to the miuilser, who Gas
We have been informed) advifed the SCENTS
to. 2ofpone preientng them 70 the HogsScf
Commons until the firR reading of ,ke1bill
they referred to: when being prefehted, /
rule OF the houfc againR receiving petaiups
on money bills was urged for the rejecting
Of them, ard they were rejeaed accordingly
And other petitions for want of formdlity,
or whatever was the reafon, have had the
fame fate. This we mention, NOT By way
of cenfure on that honorable houie, but IN
fome mesfufe to account for the conduct Of
thofe Per(ons, ssho deipairing of redreE in
conlfitutional way, have denied the juR au-
Ihority Of parliament Concerning which we
fhall now give our own fen,imenls, in,ermixt
with CELEBRATIONS on thofe of your Excel
leney1
You are peafed to oblerve, that &c when
our predeceHors 6lR took polefion of this
colony, under grant and charter from the
crown of England, it was their fenfe; and
it was the fenfe of the kingdom, that they
were to remain fubjed to the lupreme ausho-
rily of parliament" And to prove that lub-
jeefion The greater part of your fpeeehisem-
ployed. 80
In order to right conception of this mat
ter, it is necsGary to guard ugainfi any i'm
proper idea of the term Jsprsms authority.
10 your idea Of it your ExceIlency feems to
include Hslimifr6 authority; Fer you are
pleaied to fay, you know Of no line that
can be drawn between the luprenie authoEi.
sy of parliament and the total Independence
OF the colonies !" But if no luch line car be
drawn, denial of thar authority in any irfs
fance whatever, implies and amounts 70 q
declaration of total independence. But If
fupreme authority includes unlimited ausho-
Fity, the fvbifeas of il are emphaticalty
0aves; AntnfeauallY 70, whether reiidiug in
the color l.. q frav Britain. And indeed
in thiz ,rips.s all the nations on earth, a.
mong whom government exits in any ofits
forms, would be alike conditioned: Excep-
ting 70 far as the mere grace and favour of
their governors might make q difference.
For g from the nature of government there
mutt be, as your ExceIlency has observed,
one fuprene authority over the whoies"
We cannot think, that 6 when our prede-
cefots firff took po6efiion Of this colony, il
was their fenfe, or the ienfe of the kingdom,
that they were to remain fubjea to the fa-
preme authority of parliament in this'idea
oft. Nor can we hn1 that this appears
from the charter or that fuch authority has
ever been exercifed by parliament, fubmit'ed
to BY the colony, OF acknowledged BY the
Lsgi0a:uEe.