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

would be aliened from any connection with
the people of this province, for whole be-
ne6t they are and ought to be appointed,
and would be indebted to his Majeity for
his grants made to them for their fervices |;
and by means thereof become fubject to
the influence and direction of his Majefy's
minffers of fate, in matters appertaining
to the diitribution ofjuifice in this province /;
whereby foundation will be laid of uni
on of the department of the judicial powers
here, with that of the Kings miniiters of
fate in Great Britain, than which nothing
is more to be dreaded by free people.
And whereas Peter Oliver, Elq; chief
Jufice of the Superior Court of Judicature,
Court of Aflize and General Goal Delivery
over this Province, a court wholly erected
and conifituted by the Great and General
Court or Ailembly by power granted to
the faid General Court by the clauie in fad
charter aforementioned, well knowing the
premifes but not regarding the fame, with
defign to fubvert the contribution of this
province as eftabliihed by the faid royal
charter, and to introduce into the iaid Court
partial arbitrary and corrupt adminiffrati-
cn of jufice, declining to take and receive
any more the grants of the General Aaem-
bly, of this province, did on or about the
tenth day of January, I774, at Bottom, in
the county of Suffolk, take and receive, and
refolve for the future to take and receive
from his Majeily's miniiters and lervants,a
grant or falary for his fervices as chief juf-
tice of the faid hyperion court, againR his
own knowledge of the laid charter, and of
the way and manner preicribed therein for
the fupport of his Majeify's government in
the province, and contrary to uninterrup-
ted and approved uiage and cuffom iince
the erecting and contributing of the faid
court. And the aid Peter Oliver, Eiq;
continues in the faid refolution 70 to do,
againf the opinion and conduct of the
other judges of the iaid court, each of
whom has declared respecting himfelf, his
refolution to the contrary. And whereas
the unmerited fun of four hundred pounds
tterling granted by his Majefy and annual
ly to be paid to the faid Peter Oliver, Efq;
for his iervices as chief juffice of the faid
hyperion court, together with the hopes of
its augmentation, if he is fill fufered to
continue in his laid Office, cannot fail to have
the effect of continual bribe in his judici-
al proceedings, and cxpoie him to viola
ton of his oath. And by his accepting
and resolving the faid FUN, he hath betrayed
the corruption and baienefs of his heart,
and the forbid luf of coveteoufnefs In
breach of his engagements to rely foley
upon the grants Of the general afiembly,
neceiIarily implied and involved in his &C
cepting faid Office
And the faid Peter Oliver, Efq; by his.
taking and receiving the. fad grant out of
the revenue unjulfly levied and extorted
from the inhabitants of the American colo
lonies, hath as far, forth as lay in his power,
put laneion on and eftablifhed the faid
revenue, which is mott deifruetive infrac-
ton of the contribution of this province,
and violation of the natural and mott eff
fential rights of the people,--the executive
right of giving, granting and appropriating
their own property, and of judging of the
merits of their own Eervants. And hath
counteraeted the realonable petitions of the
representatives of the people TO his MajeRy
and other their conititutional endeavours to
obtain the redrefs of this grievance.
And the faid Peter Oliver, Efq; by his
conduit as aforefaid, in defiance and con-
tempt of the known lenie of the body of
this people, expreay and repeatedly declared
and publifhed by their representatives and
otherwiie, hath wickedly and pcrverfeIy
endeayoured to continu: and increaie the