The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-02-17

ment or our own OF TaCnGr Il lupItIIlS~
provincial court, in which we are equally
reprefented and to whole laws alone, UNI
derobedience to thelaw ofGod ,oughtweto
be fublervient No man can ierve two
matters. To be fublect to two Legislative
powers, renders US liable to double fab-
lerviency, which the nature Of government
does not require. A corrupt and diiaffcct-
ed miniRry, have hitherto attempted to
enaave US, by endeavouring to bring US to
fubmit to acts of parliament, which they,
and iome of our enemies, adders in our
bofom, had unjufly planned; and of which
| the late formidable ftamp-act, was mani
felt infance This has happily been re-
! pealed But now, fill determined to exc
cute their mifchievous fcheme, they have
let loofe the monferous Eaft-India company
upon us to deyour us who have begun
1 their baneful commifion, by endeayouring
to wafh down the fatal pill, with the be-
witching, the unialutary BoHEA L E A,
which they have fent out in large quantities
to the different cities and principal towns
on the continent, to allure us with its gild-
ed bait And here we cannot help expref-
fling our recruitment againf lome of our
II own countrymen, who have been edging
on thofe deep laid fchemes. What encou-
ragement mutt it give our enemies in Bri-
tain, when they find that men, born and
educated among us, have ipoken enmity
X againft us, and endeavoured to reprefent us
as rebels, and diafeeted fubjects. We
believe ourielves to be as loyal lubects to
his mott gracious Majeify King George
the third, as any in his European domnlons.
To him we own our firm allegiance, and
his crown will we maintain to our lateft
breath nor do we deiire to live free from
the refraints of good government we
detett anarchy and confuiion but, we fay
Il it again; we cannot think it juit to be
fubiea to the controul of parliament,
three thoufand miles diitant from us, who
never can, either iealonably hear, or tho
roughly be acquainted with, the fituation
of our affairs. 1t is with deep concern and
uneaiinefs, that we find ourlelves reduced
to this. unhappy alternative, either to reilit
or yield. If we yield, we own the power
that oppreAes US, and mutt forever fubmit
to its defpotic fway: If we refif, we oppole
the fame oppreffive power, and mutt exert
our refolutions with unremitted ardour, for
our own iecurity. five yield we detach
low countryn, and mutt endure C. rl Uar I IGrr
reproaches; we mutt fuffer the evils, which
fervile fubmifiion will bring on us and our
H poferity, and convey the brand of nfamy
and fhame, to fucceeding generations. We
are therefore eonfrained, by the facred OBJ
legations of patriotifm, Gelf- preiervation, and
the tender ties of filial affection, to Join our
brethren of the feveral towns on the con-
tinent, in oppofing the operation of thefe
encroaching acts. Nature dictates, reafon
directs, and confidence obliges us to fupport
our freedom our happineis depends upon
it; our caufe is juf, and we doubt not
fully confonant to the will of God in him
therefore let us put our truif let our hearts
be obedient to the dictates of his fovereign
will and let our hands and hearts be al
ways ready to unite in zeal for the COM
mon good, and tranlmit to our children,
that iacred freedom which our fathers have
tranfmitted to us, and which they purchaf-
ed for us with their puref blood.
" We therefore further reiolve,
lift. That we will not fufer to be i'm
ported from Great-Britain to this town, any
articles whatever, on which the parliament
has laid duty, with the purpofe of rafting
a revenue from US without our content.
:" IDLY. That we will have no dealings
or correspondence with any perfon who
may willfully promote, either directly or
indirectly, the operation of fuch arbitrary
a4s.
"3dly. That it is the opinion of this
town, that one of the mott effeefual means
for obtaining redrefs of our grievances, is