North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-31
EDITED BY CANADIANS & AMERICANS

/ 0l The Sub'ect-' In Tree state, every
man, who is supposed a free agent, ought
to be concerned IN his own government:
Therefore the legislative should reside in
the whole body OF the people, or their re-
representatives.. ~" The political Liberty Of
the subject is u tranquility OF mind, arts
ing from the opinion each person has OF
his safety. In order 10 have this liberty,
It is requisite the government be so
constituted, as that one man need
not he afraid of another When the
power OF making laws and the power
Of executing them, are united IN the same
body Of magistrates, there can be no liber-
~; because approximations may arise, lest
the same monarch or senate should enact
tyrannical laws, TO execute them in ty-
rannca manner"
"The power Of Judging should be ex-
ercised by persons taken from the body of
the people, at certain times Of the year,
and pursuant to form and manner pre-
scrbcd by law There is no liberty, il the
powe. Of Judging be not separated from
the legislative and executive powers"
" Military men belong to profession,
which NAV be useful, but is often danger-
Gus" -" The enjoyment of liberty, and
even its support and preservation, consists
in every mans being allowed to speak his
thoughts, and lay open his sentiments"
Apply these decisive maxims, sancti6ed
by the authority Of a name which all Eu-
rope reveres, to your own state. You
have a governor, it may be urged, vested
with the executive powers, or the powers
cf Oh io;c In
council, is lodged the power Of making
laws. You have Judges, who are TO de-
eide every cause affecting yonr lives, llber-
ty or property. Here is, indeed, an APP
pearance Of the several powers being Sc
parated and distributed into different hands,
for checks, one upon another; the only
efiectua mode ever invented by the wit
Of men, to promote their freedom and pros
perity. But scorning TO be iluded by
tinselled outside, and exerting the natural
sagacty Of Frenchmen, examine the spe-
cous device, and yon will find it, to use an
expression Of holy writ, !" a whited sepnI-
chre," for burying your lives, liberty and
property.
Your judges, and your legislative coun-
Gil, as it is called, are dependant on the
servant Of the crown, in Great-Britain.
The legislative, executive and Judging
powers are all moved by the mods Of
minister. Privileges and immunities last
no longer than his smiles. When he frowns;
their feeble forms dissolve. Such treach-
erous ingenuity has been exerted in draw
ing up the code lately offered you, that
every sentence, beginning with benevo-
lopf ~ cl,,1o ,b Loot
tive power; and the substance of the
whole, Invested Of its smooth words, is
that the crown and It's ministers shall be
as absolute throughout your extended
province, as the despots Of Asia or Africa.
What can protect your property from tax
ing edicts, and the rapacity Of necessitous
and cruel masters' your persons from
letters de cachet, gaols, dungeons, and OPP
pressive services? your lives and general
liberty from arbitrary and unleeling rulers!
We defy you, casting your view upon
every side, TO discover a single circum-
stance, promising from any quarter the
iantest hope Of liberty 10 you, or your
poslerlty, but from an entire adoption into
the union Of these colonies.
What advice would the truly great man
aforementioned. that advocate of free
dom and humanity, give you, was he now
living, and knew that we, your numerous
and powerful neighbours, animated by d
just love Of our invaded rights, and united
by the indssolube bonds of affection and
interest, called upon you, by every obliga-
ton Of regard for yourselves and your
children, as we now do, to Join US in our
righteous contest, TO make common cause
with US therein, and take noble chance
for emerging from bumiating subsection
under governors, ntendants and military
tyrants, into the firm rank and condition
OF English freemen, whose custom it is,
derived from their ancestors, TO make those
trembIe, who dare TO think Of making them
miserable!
Would not this be the purport of his
address, " Seize the opportunity present
ed 10 you by Providence itself You have
been conquered into liberty, if you act as
you ought. This work is not OF man.
You are small people, compared to those
who, with open arms, invite you into
fellowship. A moments reflection should
convince you which viii be most for your
interest and happiness. to have all the
rest OF North-America your una,terable
friends, or your inveterate enemies. The
injuries OF Boston have reused and associ-
ated every colony, from Nova-Scotia 10