The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-03-03
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
Mr.. THOMAS,

MT. Il HOMAS,
Pkaf TO njyt tbs oV1Ui7g in your gfsfal paper, and
yOa qVW Obige many Of your eEf01'ers
A BOUT the 9Th. and 9th. OF this month, February,
n eighteen men of the Baptih Denomination in the
town of WayqVick in this province, committed to
Northampton goal, for reng pay tax for the fuPPort
of mniter from whom they conicicntoLy dented, and
on whole miniry they did attend The writer Of this
account unwilling any in the province, to raife
clamor at this time, which may in the eai inurc its public
ntereRs. But the above inanee of PeriecutiOn 70
fagant 70 daring violation of the rights of confidence
70 arontive to every real on of eedom and 10 rpugnan
to every idea of liberty, that he cannot be iilent.
What eighteen men be torn from their families in
the mdf of winter, and confined in cold prion, where
they remain account OF religion whoean read the
melancholy narrative without horror!
Is it not generally acknowledged, that every man has
undoubted right think for himelf and to worfhp God
in his own way Why then oud the BaPtis beimprfoned
for the exercie Of that right Has not mott Gracious
Sovereign, in the Royal Charter of this province, placed all
denominations of chRans, Paps excepted, equal
footing Why then are the ba tits hauled to prlon, and
plagued with lawuits for reufng a in the maintenance
ofcongegationa miners Is not enough for them to
maintain their own locieties !
But Circumstance which highly aggrayates the proceed
ings agan the bapts at WarTVi is, that they gave in
certificates to the aeor that they ct the Baptf
peruaon, and therefore be exempt from mnitera
rates by TEMPORARY aa of the General Court. How will
colonies What mu be the conequence, if they hould be
laid before his Maey, who will not iucr any OF his ubeet
be deprived of liberty Of confidence And who, not
long fnee deovcred his Royal regard his BaPt fubee
in this province, by readily repeating the Aihhed law BY
which the Baptifs in the town of ARfeid, were amoh
ruined their temporal ntees. And iurey Perons
who duly weigh thee matters rcaonaby blame the Bap
lifts ofths province for eekng ppaaaI exemption from
thes oPPreonwhe they have reaion to exPeethe fha
obtain it. Nor viii they be accountable for any eonquen-
that may follow iuch application, feeling they arc drove
to it by intolerable perfecution.
Shall Percuton on of religion have Placein the
province of the MaOdebsi, which province has always
been foremo in the caufe of civil liberty Such conduct
will juRy lubjea us to the mo ievere reflections. We fay
that the parliament of Great Britain has right to tax US
-4,saeans or take money from US without our
content. And in the name of common fenfe, BY what
rights the money Of the Baps taken from them by aef
ors or conabes without their content, upPOt miners
of the congregational Peuaon, from whom they dent in
confidence Such proceedings contrary to reaon, to re-
lgOn and to the charter of the province n paPetaaf
exemption from uch unchian treatment is what the BaP-
lifts ak for, not favour but right.
II Friend TO Liberty, Civil and RtiigisH'.