Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-12

is not founded on n blind will-his authority
is limited by reason and justice" This was
the revolutionary theology, and it is good
enough now for use in Austria, and in some
other parts of Europe. "Clericus' concludes
that tame submission can be made only at
the peril of our own damnation."
These circumstances call to mind an incl
dent, related by Mr.. Thomas, showing the in
terest which the patriot, James Otis, had in
this exciting controversy. He was then sut-
fering under the effects of that melancholy de-
rangement of mind, which continued, with
rare lucid intervals, to the close of his life.
Some weeks previous to the publication of the
most obnoxious of these addresses, Mr.. Otis
called one evening at the Office of Mr.. Thomas
and asked private conference. Ascending to
his retired editorial room, Otis, still under the
influence of his disorder, demanded two sheets
of paper and pair of scissors, which were
presented to him. He doubled the sheets to-
gether, in formal manner, writing his own
signature on one of them, and demanding Mr..
Thomas countersign on the other. He then
folded the latter carefully, deposited it in his
| pocket, and, assuring Mr.. Thomas that he
would hear from him again, departed. Soon
AFTER reports of the threatened prosecution,
on account of publishing the addresses to the
king, became very prevalent. Mr.. Otis again
| appeared apparently seif-composed, and in the
undisturbed possession of reason He said he
had heard much of the address" and "the
threatened prosecution" Mr.. Thomas handed
him paper containing the incendiary ad
dress, which he read once very attentively,
and second time, paragraph by paragraph,
repeating at the end of each, "There is no
treason in that" When he came to the strong
est passage, he paused-read it again and
again-and after bordering upon it some
time, he exclaimed, "Touch and go, by G."
Having read the address entirely through the
second time, he was convinced the whole of it
was defensible, and assured Mr.. Thomas that,
in case the prosecution should take place, he
would voluntarily come forward in his defence
without fee or reward, or he would point out
the ground of defence which ought to be fol-
lowed. He grew agitated toward the close of
the interview, and on taking his leave, said,
Games Otis still retains some knowledge of
law" The proposed prosecution fell to the
ground, and Mr.. Thomas never saw his patriot
friend again.
! Finally the Spy and Mr. Thomas were
fiercely threatened by the British soldiery. In
March 1775, the troops committed an unpro-
voked and infamous outrage a young man
| from Ril1orioo TIa war strppa1 no ,a1 torrod
and feathered, and paraded on truck through
the streets by one of the regiments. This
regiment of savages, with its colonel at his
head, halted before the Spy Office and shout
ed,-"The printer of the Spy shall be the next
to receive this punishment" 1t is not easy to
say what might have befallen the Spy and its
printer had they remained in Boston. But
the patriots of Worcester had urged Mr..
Thomas to remove the paper to this place
and he finally decided to do so. His arrange
ments forthe removalw were made just before the
battle of Lexington. His press and types were
conveyed out of Boston privately, through the
aid of Col Bigelow and Gen. ,MJarrep, "A heFe
removal of the Spy from Boston and its first
appearance in Worcester. In the meantime,
the battle of Lexington took place and Mr.
Thomas had part in it. The first number of
the Spy printed in Worcester was dated MAY
3, l775; and this was the first printing done
in this place.
The first number of the Spy, in July, ITO,
was printed on piece Of paper % inches long
by y inches broad. Besides the prospectus
and programme, it contained news from Lon
don to May 9Th, and items of news from Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. There
was no motto or device of any kind The first
issue on a whole sheet, in March, III. had
both notices and devices 1t was-"THE
MASSACHUSETTS SPY, A Weekly and Com
mercial Paper open to All Parties but in
fuenced by None. Published by |. Thomas
near the Mill-Bridge, Boston, Do thou great
Liberty inspire our Souls, and make our lives
in thy possession happy, or our Deaths glorious
in thy just defence" Pictorial devices ap-
peared at each side of the title. In October
l772, the words,-"or Thomas's Boston Jour
nal, were added to the title In July. 1774
he added the device of serpent cut into pieces.
and threatened by hideous dragon. sig
nlfying the different colonies and their danger
from England, with the motto-"Jo1N OR
DIE" The first number of the weekly issue
commemorated the anniversary of the Boston
massacre by an appropriate reference 10 the
matter enclosed in black lines and surmounted
by deaths head and cross bones and on
the next anniversary of that event the paper
was put into mourning and there was again
use for the deaths head and cross bones.
On Its first appearance in Worcester, the pa
per was called-"THoMAs's Massachusetts
SPY, OR AMERICAN ORACLE OF LIBERTY"
and was headed with the words Americans
Liberty or Death join or dep Soon af
ter the paper was transferred to Worcester.
Mr. Thomas leased it for two years and estab-
llshed printing Office in Salem. On return
ing to the Spy, he adopted a new motto. as
follows =" Unanimity at Home, and Bravery
and Perseverance in the Field, will secure the
Independence of America" After a time he
added new device, remodeed the file NV
adding after the word SPY, cor the Worcester
Gazette" and put in the following motto.-
The Noble Efforts of Virtuous, Free. and
United People, shall extrpate Tyranny and cs-
tablish Liberty and Peace" After the war bo
adopted the following Latin motto -"Noscere
res humans est Hominis )" knowledge of
the world is necessary to man. From Ju.
Anrit