The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-10-27
For the MASSACHUSETTS, SPY.
Plymontb, OAaIer IL, w.

At ~
~ a grear confluence of people in this town,
to prevent the fitting of the court, in imitation
of the example Of other counties, it being ex-
Pedient and necelary at this critical corjunc-
ture, to maintain iimilarity OF sentiment, and
uniformity of action. The affairs, reipeetlng
the declaration of the juitices, recantation OF
addrefing, &c. were managed by the delegates
OF the county convention. ThoiesPerions, who
incurred universal oPprcbrium, by protecting
lait winter, to molllfy the resentment, and re-
gam the iIniles Of the populace, produced the
following humiliating recanration three of
the lower mott in this lift, fubfcribed before
the body OF the people, under the pole, lately
eretted in honour TO the Goddeis Liberty.
" We the lubicribers, having in December
lai, injudiciouAy iigned protef, againa the
proceedings, not only of this town and pro-
vince, but of the whole continent, which has
reflected great diihonour on our names and
characters, and wounded the interea of our
country, candidly acknowledge, faid protelt'
had direct tendency to defeat the mealures,
dictated by the united wiidom of the colonies,
to remove grievances insolerable : And the
influence and operation of it have been 70 ex-
tenilvely mlfchievous, as might juitly have
Souied our fcllow-citizens to vengeance,--and
with gratitude we return this tribute OF thanks
Tor the indulgence and lenity, which have been
exerclied towards us.
Certain expreiiions in the proteA might ma
turally induce an attentive reader to fuppoie,
that unacquainted with the true-origin Of ma
Jeity and civil authority, we had ignorantly
mlitaken the image for the reality while we
courted the imlles of men (becauie cloathed with
the pageantry Of aate) who were aiming their
daggers at the vitals Of the contribution.
+" To atone, therefore, In lome meafure, for
our pa& pernicious principles and condua, land
conciliate the forfeited affections Of our fellow
citizens, we folemnIy engage, as men of reli-
gion and veracity, forever hereafter to diiclaim
the right of legiaa,ion in the Bririh parliament,
that we will neither accept Of, nor execute any
Office, derived from an authority it may Won
tonly aiume but to the utmoll Of our power
will oPpoie all its uiurpation, fuch as It's Late
acts, in regard to this province, will co-ope-
rae with our countrymen in every laudS@e,
oppoftion, and be ready at all times, to Acl5r
fee every confederation in defence Of thekon-
eitutional privileges and immuniries of. AMsSI
RIGA.
"ThomasMathews, Cornelius White, Gideon
White, Thomas Folter, tertius, Lemuel God
dard, lchabod Shaw, John Thomas, William
Trenholm. John Walton, Ilaac lie Baron,
Elkanah Cuihman, George Walton, Samuel
Harlow, James Hovey, Thomas Foaer, Edward
Winilow, Penham Window"
Committees were cholen in each town In the
province, to requef the military officers, TO re-
iign their respective commiaions, as it was
deemed incongruous and abfurd, for a man,
who profe1ed ientimen;s of affection and re-
gard for the tranquility and Happiness of the
province, 10 fufain fuch a comminion, under a
Captain General, who is making warl;ke pre-
parations againf it, and (for aught that APP
pears to the contrary may foon commence
hoitilitics and ofeniive operations.
Colonel Walton and Major Winlow have
promiied to reign their commifions accord
ingly.