The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-11-18

ffituling that mofi dangerous and intolerable
evil that ever was felt by people; that fource
of civil difcord, ,realons and murders an imps-
rim in imbeyio, which conltitutes the houie
whole fate the breath of omnfcence has pro-
nonnced, viz. IL Cannot fandP Have they
not further, to defeat all profpe6 of our re-
lieving ourfelves by the free courfe of the laws
of the land, held out bribe to our fupreme
executive, and doubly corrupted the council,
whole duty it is to Zee The eanmsntOs0lfb fsE
fsys no injnyyi Are we not by thefe feveral
muf intolerabie entertainments, thefe injuri
Gus in,erferences into the civil polity of our
fate, cut off from all hopes of relief from
courts Of law, and even from our high court
of parliament, which the aforeiaid omnipo-
tent parliament Of Gieat-Butain have by a
late refove, rendered, or rather endeavoured
to render. as ufeefs as King of the Ro.
mans For il one fupreme legislative body,
in which the whole continent of America
have not Jingle voice, have power to make
laws which ihall be binding upon US in all
cafes whatfoever, rights, liberties. legiA tive
powers, under fuch abfoiute iufpendIng, diff
penfing, efiabllhing annihilating power as
this, ale nicer lhadows, Jack o'lanthorns
ferving only to mllead and engulph US.
There Can be no doubt but it is fl, and
perfectly confident with the principle of all
laws human and divine, TO Telih robbers,
murderers aad lubver.ers of The government
of free fates, whether thefe crimes are COM
mitted by individuals or nations, or more
properly defposifm endeavouring to eta
bifh itfelf, over the mott free and happy ma
ton on the globe. The only quelflon is,
whether ii be prudent to ri(que reii ance.
To this anlwer we mutt be fure that
we have good caufe and think Of this
we are certain. We may then fsfely ven.
ture il with that God who loves righteouf
ne(s and hates oppreiIion who has made {
our indfp,nfab duty to prelfrVs oar GU" hVs'
and the Gvss Of others, more Especially our
brerhrcn OF the fame community. Under
his protection we lhall be fate while we walk
in his commandments, and BY his all
powerful afifance enc may chaIe thou
land, and two put ten thouland to fight.
I, is highly probable our oppreaors will
withdraw their hand when they find our
reloIutop, and conlider how fatal il mua
be TO themlelves to drive things to extremi-
v. Great Britain at war with her colonies
would be in the condition of trunk de-
priyed of its members. Beiides the foun-
da.ion of the di(pute being an effort of her
miniHers to diminib the )SOsrfignfy OF 10
great a number of free )sf goVsrnirg Jfafs',
and erea an abfolute defpotIm over them
muR give umbrage to every other power IN
Europe, this being an open violation Of the
law of nations, and puniihable by all as
Vatell B II. c. Nv. s So. declares in theie
words, IS II then there is any where natl
ON of a refiIefs and mifchievous difpolition
always ready to injure others, to traverie
their deEgns, and to raife domettic troubles
il is not to be doubted but all have . righ
to Join in order to repreis, chaffife, and pu'
it ever after out Of its power to injure them"
And in the next paragraph the interference
with their government and diminution OF
their sovereignty is declared to be capital in
iuries. Their fchsmes of Opprefiion have
heretofore been fruffIated, and even now
they are drove to Rratagem. Their efforts
to delude this people to their deitrua.on are
vi6bIe to US, and we perceive plainly the
necefity to guard, not only sgainff their
brutal force, attempting to eniave US, but
alto againff their arti6ce. They know
we are a religious and confcienticus peo'
pie, but think we are ignorant Of the
true (pirit of laws refpeaing msGm and tEam ;
therefore apprehend .hemfelves iafe in feDd
ing their trspery to America, notwrihhand
ing that property is now confti;uted the me
dun of our political defrueion-but the,