The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-11-04
For the MAssAcHUsETrs S Ply.
MIR. HOMAs,


DERHAPS in the annals Of no fate has
4 criiis appeared more irt.reffing than
the preient is to us. Deipotiim with all It's
horrors tares US full in the face, and taunt:
US with undiiguiied deffruaion. Taxation
without content and monopoly of trade, C.
'tsbilfhlng itlef together. The man who
can view fuch an event as this without con-
Germ, mutt be as blind TO future events as
the lowef Hortentot. Let the trade be mo.
nOpolized in particular hands or companies,
and the privileges OF thefe companies lye TO
tally at the mercy of Britilh Miniitry, and
how loon will that miniary command all
the power and property Of the empire
What did ever prince want to render his
power abfoute but an unlimited sccels TO
the Purfes of his fubjeas Is not fuch an
accels almof efabliihed through the
BTtilh dominions What mutt the COME
quence be, if It can really and permanently
be fixed ! What indeed, but the mott dread
ful rain of intolerable evils that ever over.
whelmed peop'e In the hrit place the
trade which maintained mil ions in compc
tency, and thouiands in opulence, will quick
" for(ske'its former channels and leave NIL
ions, as we may FAY, aground upon the dry
(ands--with thele mutt fall the usdefmen
Of every occupation, the vietualIer, the Poul
,erer, the farmer, all mutt fox into one
common heap of ruin.
But how lhall we help ourielves, Jays a
we'll meaning citizen while the authors oi
our difireis are Imported by the civil power
of the fate, ano in cafe that ihould prove in
fuficent, military aid will undoubtedly a
gain be cale1 in, and plunge US into the
fame dilma condition, under which for fome
paf years we have mott bitterly groaned.
What can the people do, when there is no
regular remedy for their grievance, either IN
the courts of dlfributive jufice or even their
High Court of Parliament ! To ahemble
in body, and attempt to deal with COM
mI1ioners of fampt papers, revenue acts,
or tea fales, will lubjea us to projections
civil and criminal and in cafe any Of them
of their lives, or had the eceptacle OF this
psfiltntiai commodity defroyed by fire, the
action againR the setofs and abeuor'
would be capital. This is indeed, rightfully
the cafe in time when man lives in pesce
and good nelgh5ourhood with all around
him. Mutual protection in the lite'ty OF
our perfons, quiet enjoyment, and aofolu'e
difpofal of our reflective properties, is the
bond of fociety; and while this remains
firm and unlnjuTed, no man can refuie
that protection to any member OF the
community who requires IL; but in cafe
any man or number of men invade the hbeT-
ties of a people, impoie any reffnetions, oil
extor. any contributions from them, without
their content, iuCh party openly dIiiplves
the pact of lociety turns every member
loole into the primitive fate ct nature, and
leaves every one to provide for his own fe-
curity in lhe belf manner he can. When
the contribution of country is overIhrown,
its LatOs are hanging svaLls, ready to cfuih the
parties to pieces they were framed TO defend
Laws sgaInft mobs and riots in particular
were dehgned to (ecure the bsnlf and UbsLf-
| Isme citizen from The outrage OF any number
OF sviI minded perfons, combined TO do him an
injury aud certainly il mutt be very crIE'l
nal, for peilons on any private Piqle sgaintt
a man, to attack his perGon OF deiitoy his pro-
| perty in a Iio,cus and tunul:uous manner
| but !et all men remember that the FIII M;H9 n
the deer and The i,,u16eEcs IN the (utfereT, are