The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-03-03

ARTICLES of Impeachment of High
Crimes and Mildemeanours againf P E
TER DIV Err, Efq; Chief Juf-
tice of the Superior Court of Judicature,
Court of Ahize and General Goal De-
livery over this Province, by the Houfe
of REPRESENTATIVES,in General
Court ahembled, in their own Name,
and in the Name of all the Inhabitants of
this Province, February "a, I774.
VYTHEREAS theirlate Majeities King
Wv William and Queen Mary of glo-
rious memory, from their. great regard to
the Englifh contribution, and earnef de-
fire to eltablilh the fame in this his Majei-
ty's province, did by their charter made
and granted in the third year oftheirreign,
eRabliih and ordain, that all and every of
the fubiects of them their heirs and fuc-
ceiTors, which fhould come to, and inhabit
within this province and territory, and eve
nv of their children which ihould happen
to be born there, or on the ieas in coming
hither or returningfrom hence, fhould have
and enjoy all liberties and immunities of
free and natural fubjeefs within any of the
dominions of them their heirs and fuccef-
fors, to all intentS contributions and pur-
pofes whatever, as if they and every of them
were born within the realm of England.
And in the iaid charter it is further
granted and ordained, that the Great and
General Court or Alembly of the province,
which is before eRablifhed in the fame char
ter, fhall forever have full power and au-
thority to erect and confitute judicatories
and courts of record, or other courts, for
the hearing, trying and determining of all
manner of crimes, &c.
And the iaid General Court or Ailembly
hath by the fame charter, full power. and
authority to impoie and levy proportiona-
bic and reaConable ahefImentS, rates and
taxes, upon the eRates and perfons of all
and every the proPrietors and inhabitants
of the province, for his Majefy's fervice
in the neccaary defence and fupport of his
Maieffy's government of the province, and
she protection and preiervation of the inha-
bitants thereof To the intent that the in
habitants Of this his Majefy's province
might always have and enjoy that efential
privilege of the Englifh contribution, Of
luppoTting the executive and judicial Off
esrsrin the government of this province by
THE TREE GRANTS OF THE PEOPLE.
And whereas the Great and General
Court or Aifembly of this province, in
purfuance Of the power andauthority grant
ed as aforefaid, and of the good intention
thereof, have uninterruptedly and executive
" from the granting of the iaid charter,
made provifion by their own grants for
the fupport ofhis Majelfy's faid Superior
Court But many evil-minded pe1ohs,
not regarding the laid charter nor the good
intentions of the iane, have of late years
combined and confpired together, to put
divers contributions on the faid charter,
wholly inconfiftent with the aforefaid ma
nifeif intent and purpofe of the fame, and
dearuetiye of Engliih liberties and to in
! troduce aud eitabliih another form of go
yernment, and new mode of fupportiHg
the executive and judicial officers of the 60
yernment. For which intent they did by
'falfe approximations, procure to be made
and pafed by the parliament of Great-Bn-
tain, an act for the Establishment of reye-
nue. to be levied in America, and appropria-
ted among other things for the dcfraying
of the charges of the administration of iui-
tee in luch colonies where his Maleify
ihould judge proper and alto BY falfc
approximations and evil advice, have pro-
cured the royal grant of large iums Of mo-
ney, to be paid annually out of the iaid re-
venue, to the Juitices of the faid Superior
Court; by the e.tabl;ihmcnt Of which the