The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-06-02


contribution of Great Britain, and the yeeabe charters OF
America but that cannot, in the very nature OF things,
exit; bsca1e If It did exi, ii would be impob!e Ton an
American to pofefs any property.
The Commons of GIeat-BTiian, proceeding to carry
their claim into execution, give and grant away tax upon
all teas that al be imported into America, to be collect
e. in their very ports at before the landing thereof and
and the executive appoints his CATERERS to collect the
fame.
The Americans petition and remonIate aganfthc
ure as looking upon to be violation OF their rights,
and total humiliation of ter property but obtaining no
redeis, rather than fubmt 10 humliang meaiurc,
the whole continent reoves import more tea, noby
choorg rather have natural tight violently taken
from them than to become themieyes the niruments OF
iurrendering up the whole.
Great Britain, not iatised with letting things remain in
this tuaton the EAT India Company are initgaed to at
tempt in open violation OF the Charters OF the Americans,
in oppoton 10 the general voice of the people, and IN de-
ance of honour and uaice by hottie importation OF their
tea and by iubmion the tax 70 mpoied, to lap the
foundation of their liberties and property and to eablii
precedent for future noads. Dreadng the oiun OF uch
an action, and knowing the entments OF the Americans,
thu Company at fra heitae; but being formally and re-
gua!y ndemnied, they az length prevailed upon oy
Naturalization TO become parties IN the eauie, and to make
dirc attack upon the Liberties and property OF America
party ao in Amera, either dependant upon or looking
up to government for Advancement, Influenced By the
mean confederation Of the common TO be got BY the tale
of the tea arc procured, who rupe not TO eonipe with
her external enemies again the freedom Of America, and
become jealous advocates for taxation and ilavery.
When the yee arrive in America, iuch are the convul-
ons into which the whole continent is thrown, that the
parties concerned prevailed toeonen to thsr ne-
date return.
In one inaance the governor and officers of the euisoms
interfere p.orcr clearance for the vesl is denied the
return Of it Is prevented and day for the landing OF the
cargo, and the execution of their plan, is fixed upon.
What ought the Americans to have done Z Ought
they have amey ubmtted to this taxation, and BY ae
@edgng the principle be ju hom which itorgnaed'
ooneed themieiyss in 70 humiang condition, as that
the whole of er property, and every convenience OF HE
that commerce could afford them, depended upon, and was
held at the peaiue of the people Of Great-B Britain
This would have been to have initiated the lamb, who
yielded his throat to b. torn by the imPerious wolf
Ought they to have iubmitted @ and then Petitoned'
They had repeatedly petoned, but their cries were not
regarded Ought they TO have appealed to the law
Bat what appeal can be made the law, II the unuf
acts done asani maintained BY tie power OF the
aggrco, and the remedy which is due BY law be bs the
fame power obttrutted!
Ought they, when the tea had been landed, to have
taken it from the conignecs and locked it up
But what man could prudently have food forth IN thus
way, wretei the property from its owners, locked at up,
and openly expoed hmef the rage OF the blind and in-
fatuated Mniliry of Great-Britain'
Whatever we've the ientiments Of the Americans upon
this head, or whether IN the heat OF tne ieehhehe eJ
thought all, is foreign my purPoe 1t &c uftcent Tor
me to obcrye that in the cone thateommodity, which
was to have been instrumental to the inod-aon ofayery
and taxation, deilroyed.
Let Us next confder in what light the EAT India Com
pany ought have been eonaered by the Amereans AS
merchants nesdBe Ameriea and~@ he Ai~1on " iis
law OF nations or as bandits hned TO attack Their PrV
eses, and Unidentified sgn any lois which might be ui-
tanned in iuch attack :
And If the indemnfeaon by them required places the
nature of their a in 70 very unfiendJ point OF Vs~'
ews that they we're fully acquainted with the sentiments
of the Americans and condcrej the meaue as dangerous
becauie unua, in what light mutt the indemnfier the u-
boyncrs themiclyes, appear
And il the agents in this bufne appear 70 black let US
next examine in what light their commodity opghtto have
been eondsedn the fame faered light a. the properly OF
the honorable trader, the Indifferent property OF Hsn
combined together to ubyer the liberties Of America
But neither of thee ideas fully exprces ne true nature
Ought rather have been eonisered Is mat den-
teal Orop.ry that very engine by which the enemies Of
America meant to fubvert its privileges, and BY introducing
along with an unlimited and Discretionary right Of taxati-
on, totally to annhlate American property Certainly pro-
perty 70 ccuanced, brought thther with luc an INTENT
and become 70 maciouy involved in the iasee OF dPute
haG o thoc cred neons which the deicnce OF COM
mon pr Pey aRd ssy guratiyey be lad to have changed
its very nature and have become an n:ument OF war
II then, it appears, that the executive would not iufter
il 10 be taken back, and that the andn5 would, IN
the opinion Of the Americans, have proved as ata TO
America as the introduction of the wooden hore Of the
recans did 10 Tory tho the alternative which they choie
may have procured them many enemies, there will, doubt
lcG, be found many Others vho will pity and ereue:
SIDN Y.