The Massachusetts spy. [volume], March 26, 1772, Image 1

About The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772

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A Weekly, Political, and Commercial Paper :—Open to all Parties, but Injluenced by i me.
Publiflied by I. THOMA S, near the Mill-Bridge, Boston. .
<-DO THCU Gieat LIBERTY inspire our Souls,-And make our Lives in thy Poffeflioh happy,--Or, w Deathsm th t jus r D-tcnce.
Vol. ll.]
For the Massachusetts Spy.
The CENT IN E L N°- XL.
patriot®, if our /words now « «*.,• f«
They U want for ever—to this spot / charm
thee
By the dread words. Revenge and Liberty '
This is the crijis of our fate; this moment.
The guardian gods of Egypt hover o er us }
They watch to fee us aX like noble men,
/nd out of ills cxtraX our happinejs.
Young
HAVE for a long period
back, engaged your atten
tion, my countrymen, on
few matters that in my opini
on, were mterefting and
alarming. To this I was
| c( j jjy m y duty aJ J
’ and from an affcXtm to the land
me birth. 1 have only touched
topicks: A more entire examina
’*uft be left to men whose leisure and
1‘ abilities render them adequate to
Se&. 1 now take my leave of you,
11 hans quit the theatre of political
i for ever. But though I declare
2.be my intention, it must be un-
\n a limited sense. 1 mean still to
warmest wishes for your profpe
* bhould the afpeft of the times e
-1. nd the facrifice, I mean to lay
fortune, my connexions, my life,
Maturity and defence. This lam
__ day many considerations. You
o*ded to me with candor, and f
;d ielf with some degree of approba
£ Is to me is estimable, and shall be
Bp Jlance to many misfortunes that
.. .• me. You will at present al
ettp* freedom to offer feme advice,
rc( .ver I would have received no
as it accords with the interest
tjoitry. 1 (hall then leave you with
bee.L nd m Y P r *y er ’» that Y ou ma Y
witvePPy and fuccefsful i that you
£ ttfl triumph over those that wish
par'e ,^* on : And lhat w h atevcr ma Y
ar ne tr7 c fa uation * the M o ' l ' 6B of
। rof the Maffachufetts-Baymay
w^e u r ’ ngs may be said to you, that
, uclh %portant and interesting. 1
Ar ° n y° u '’J' argu mcnt * l h a t would
with them, to be watchful,
to your political situation :
a wife nation ever will do. Care
'nefs and security are the basts on which
spots found their tyranny; they will
.nerefore be very cautious how they alarm;
they will put on the most agreeable appear
ances,and like him in inspiration transform
themselves into angels of light, to gull and
deceive the people. This is an artful way,
and is perhaps generally fucccfsful. Man
kind are catched with form. When they
lee a man, full of devotion, complaisant and
engaging, with an apparent kindnejs and af
feXion for them, they give at once into
the snare, not reflrfting that latet anguis in
herba. But my countrymen, we live in a
day when we must fufpeft every thing. It
is a common but a true sentiment, if a
man is deceived the fiift time, he cannot
be to blame: if he falls a second time into
the snare, he must thank himfelf. This
will with justice be your character, mv
ountrymen, if you fuffer jourfelves to be
deceived, when you are Io frequently
warned and cautioned; when you have
hid before you the most powerful argu
•nts in nature, life and death, blcffing
curse.
' it is not the tyrant himfelf that you
r '/ to guard against. Though he is
' * “ mover, yet it is of a machine in
thouiand parts, who are all
■tha ph e y disperse through the
‘••’ n 'of the province, and co<n
* !g’y the attention of the peo
” Crusts eat up every fentimcnt.
4 c .inuated thcmfdv.-s into every
Thursday; march 26, 1772.
department. Some of the most note among
th m influence at the bar and in courts ; o
, tbcnr conceal themftivei under the m It ;
/acred cover, while the more humble ami
less qualified crawl into the inferior chiles
of the citizens. Thefc people are capable
of, and have done extensive mifehief. '
This I myfclf have been witness to, and
have trembled for the ark. And in a peculiar
manner, in a prolcflion 1 have just named,
I have observed how powerful they have
worked on minds, not strong enough io
fee through the guise, and like the little
Foxes we read of, have spoiled the tender
vines. Oh 1 my countrymen, you cannot
be fufficientlv attentive to these men. Let
not outward appearance, let not faces by
long trial formed for service, put you off
your guard. On the contrary, let them
know, that the mode of procedure you des
pise, the intention you resent. If these lit*
tie props infignificant in themselves, but
taken colle&ively, alarming, are cut away,
the fabrick itfelf will totter. Stripped of
these, the mover himfelf will be naked and
weak, and *< must bleed at every vein.”
This fubjeift might as I observed have
been largely handled ; but I omit this and
come to what in my appreheniion is more
important: And in a peculiar manner is
this proper now, as the period approaches
when it will have the greatest influence.
In a little time will come on, the choice
of Representatives. This is an import
affair, and essentially so at this feaiop.
The time now calls, and for reasons I wul
presently give, for veterans in the cause
their country. I would have those and
those only choff, who from principle are
patriots i who animated by a warm affecti
on for this land are not to be intimidated
nor cajoled ; but who will seriously take
into consideration the state of the province,
and enter into measures most conducive to
its prosperity.
In such seasons it is usual to give in
ftru&ions. From them let the sense of the
people be colle&ed. Let mankind know,
whether in general we resent or are easy un
der our situation. To the people, taken in
ths fenfe,l would now add refs myfelf;and
I would offer something which I would
earnestly wish may be contained in thefc
inftru&ions. What I shall propose God
knows is not the effect of malice or re
venge; but I. propose them as I am con
cerned for the welfare of the province and
as I am of opinion they are indi/penfably ne
ccflary.
It seems the Grand Inquest for this coun
ty have declared themselves uneasy with
refpeft to Richardton, conviftcd of mur
der. Such an opinion from a body of
that high nature fufficiently exposes what
has been Rung out, that the murmurings
so frequently heard proceeded only from
the dilcontenc of tome individuals. This
is an affair of the utmost importance. When
the execution of a man legally conviXed is
suspended twenty-two months, and the
murderer is then difeharged in an unufdal
manner, society ought to be alarmed,
i'he Grand Jury could not with propriety
have proceeded farther than they have
done ; but there is a body of men, and I
affirm it, there is a body of men, who
have a right to canvass to the utmost ts •$
tranfadion : And not only this right have
the commons of this province, but thev
are bound to do to by the most forcible
considerations. To suppose a court of
justice unaccountable for their condud is a
fokeifm on the principles of a free govern
ment ; if fc, I know of no body on earth in
whom this right of controul is veiled but
in the commons of this kingdom. Every
man in a judicial capacity (hou Id con filer
that some deference should be paid to the
sentiments of so high a body, whatever
flight notions they may entertain of their own
dignity and honour. Sorry would Ibe to
infinmte that this last is really the case,
>' I. fufpeft grvunilefdi let the fafp»cion
;' wif o>< rWy own he*d A-d the confe
quenas even in (his vttw of Krings m»y be
unhappy. Mankind from ennduil in ca
pi lal inflances always jjdgc of behaviour in
matters of less moment. The contempt due
.to the former is irtquer.t’y trins:crr d to
the latter.' lam grieved tneretore when I
fee a set of men (ufpeXed to be without
principle and who are looked on, by the
man of letters with esntempt, by the pious,
with horror, and by the bulk of the citi
zens with execration. I would have you,
my countrymen, by all means in/iruX,
command your representatives, that they
fuffer not blood so long to pollute the land
without an enquiry. By no means let this
be omitted. It would be a virtual juftifi
cation of the aft itfelf. And not only the in
terests of society now require such a pro
cedure, but the rnterefts of pofterisy, on
whom such a precedent permitted, may
have an unhappy influence. Oh! my
countrymen, I cannot pass by this matter
as a flight thing; it lays near my
The laws of God, of nature and lociety
all unite with me in enforcing my rrqueft.
And in this determination may you be as
sisted by him, who is the only source of
wisdom; who will never fee the laws he
has inftituted,broken with impunity,tndvA\o
has once declared, the voice of thy brother's
blood CRIETH TO ME from the ground.
now mention what may perhaps
ama'^V’fome people. I cannot help it.
It « ! lQllcient for me ii I think it my du
it before niy countrymen, and if
I fin just if y and defend my coiiduft. You
may remember a paper that has made no
little noise, ftgned Mucius
He has advanced some bold truths. But al
though the creatures of admin.ftration have
threatened and the archers have (hot at
him, ** his bow has yet remained in
strength.” He has had the happiness of
finding his notions, juftifiid by his country
men, and the fame Grand Jury who be
haved so fpiriced in Richardton’s case, have
in faX attested to the truth of them. For
my own part 1 am convinced of nothing
more than of the reality of wnat he asserts.
This opinion was not catched ha/iily, but
founded on arguments, which arguments 1
laid before the public in two of my num
bers : and surely this is an important
point. Either what Mucius fays is true or
falfe-, ifthe latter, Why is he not
1 ne conduft of the Grand Jury, and the
general opinion of the people, will make
any man fufpeX that it is not falfe •, at least
he will be doubtful. Admitting it in this
light, admitting it to be only doubtful, it is
a doubt of SO HIGH A NATURE that
it ought by all means to be solved. The
exijience of the community demands this:
But if it should happen to be true how does
the argument acquire force. How can
an houte approach a governor, when they
know in their fouls he is not a legal one ?
How can they permit the business of the
province to come forth under the fanftiun
of a man who has no authority for such a
fanftion I Your interests, your all de
mands of you my countrymen, that you
solemnly requite those whom you shall
commission, to make a point of this matter ;
order them to examine whether the opini
on now circulating is true or falfe. If thev
find the latter, the rights of the governor
demand their public attestation to his cha
rafter; if they find the former the rights
of the community require an explanation.
Let them aft like men. Let them openly
fay so. Let them not by submitting to a
ruler whom in their fouls they difavaw,
betray a littleness of behaviour. Let them
exert themfeives, a.id let mankind know
that they have too much spirit to be made
tools of; that they will flruggle hard
for the constitution they are bound to pre
serve, and will if possible hand it down to
latest ages.
I have now,topnc tohfeft. The
Jong we have had
■hakes ma leave you my countrymen v»ih
tome regret: But it is only a change of
f.rm, at hea>t we are the fame With
chearfulncfs do 1 refi;n you to a kind pro
vidence, and to the cue of that Beiiu who
once had a favour for this peop'c, and who
i trust w;ll still be propitious to the rem
nant of Judah. And in the tranquility of
my retirement this will be my solace, an
idea that 1 have in any meuiure been ser
viceable to this peop e, and that I have
been in the least instrumental in defending
and securing the rights, the liberties and
the freedom of mankind.
I'll gently pass my short reierve of time,
In calm rtfl ftions on past periodo:
And in an even cciftfc my thoughts shall
flow.
Enjoy the present hour, nor fear the last.
While thou my country fcall ertft t y
head,
Peace spread her balmy wings and pknty
b ojm:
Thy bright example (hall convince the
world,
Whatever storms of fortune are decreed,
Virtue andFrcedom Ihall at last succeed.
Shakespeare.
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.
St. Georgi’s, [Grenada] December io.
Copy of a Letter from one oftbefrfpcnd~
td Memrers to his Excellency Gov. Ley-
BORNE, on the Receipt of the fujpenfiun.
S I R,
I HAVE had the honour of receiving your
Excellency’s suspension of me from being
a member of his Majesty’s council for this
Island. As the suspended Members
will (hortly present your Excellency with
their joint rcafons for refufing to confrnt
to the swearing in Mr. Chanteloupe
as a member of his Majesty’s council, your
Excellency will now permit me to fay, that
as my condud was the result of the maturest
deliberation, and founded on motives of
great public concernment, I cannot but fe
licitate myfelf on the internal approbation
which has followed it, and which, in its true
eftimatian, is infinitely more grateful than
the warmest and most diftinguilhed ministe
rial approbation can possibly be.
I trust, fir, that I (hall at all times, and at
the peril of all consequences, contribute my
utmost endeavours to defeat a measure so to
tally illegal and unconstitutional, and so
pregnant with danger, as the introdudion
of the French Papists in this iHand into the
Council, Aflemblyand other offices of trust,
which is now with extreme violence at
tempted to be carried into execution ; and I
do not live without hope that the accumu
lated grievances, which have been heaped
upon the injured and opprefled inhabitants
when confniered by the conttitutional re
drefler of all wrongs—a just and wife parli
ament*—will inlure to the author of them
that reward which he doth so justly merit.
I can never, Sir, regret my retreat into a
private situation, when I can no longer re
main in a public one, but by facrificing my
own opinions, judgment, and conscience.
I have the honour to be, &c. &c.
St. George's, December lyyt*
The following are the joint reasons of the late
members of btsMajejly s council in Grenad. ,
for their conduct.
Because, WE think that the many ads if
Parliament which restrain the crown from
employing in places of trust and power
a*l persons whatever who profefs the
Roman Catholic religion, are not to be dis
pensed with by any prerogative of the King ;
and that the inability all such persons are st
present in, by law, of holding offices, is mt
any other wife to be removed, but by an ad
o Parliament of Great-Britain.
[Numb. 56.