deftruction. But, when in addition to the repeated inroads made upon the rights and liberties of the colonists, and of those in this province in particular, we reflect on the late extraordinary measure in affixing ftipends, or falaries from the crown to the offices of the Judges of the fuperior Court of Judicature, making them not only intirely independent of the people, whofe lives and fortunes are fo much in their power, but absolutely dependant on the crown, (which may hereafter be worn by a tyrant) both for their appointment, and support, we cannot but be extremely alarmed at the mifchievous tendency of this innovation; which, in our opinion, is directly contrary to the spirit of the British Constitution, pregnant with innumerable evils, and hath a direct tendency to deprive us of every thing valuable as men, as christians, and as fubjects, entitled, by the royal charter, to all the rights, liberties and privileges of native Britons. Such being the critical ftate of this province, we think it our duty on this truly diftreffing occafion, to ask you, what can withstand the attacks of mere power? what can preferve the liberties of the subject, when the barriers of the constitution are taken-away? The town of Boston, confulting on the matter above-mentioned, thought proper to make application to the Governour by a committee; requesting his excellency to communicate fuch intelligence as he might have received, relative to the report of the Judges having their fupport independent of the grants of this province, a copy of which you have herewith in paper No. 1. * To which we received as answer the paper No. 2. † The town, ont further deliberation, thought it adviseable to refer the mat. ter to the Great and General Affembly; and accordingly in a fecond addrefs, as No. 3. † they requested his Excellency + See Appendix, No. 2. See Appendix, No. 1. L4 that that the general court might convene at the time to which they then food prorogued; to which the town received the reply as in No. 4. § in which we are acquainted with his intentions further to prorogue the General Affembly, which has fince taken place. Thus, gentlemen, it is evident his Excellency declines giving the leaft fatisfaction as to the matter in requcft. The affair being of public concernment, the town of Boston thought it neceflary to confult with their Lrethren throughout the province; and for this purpose appointed a committee, to communicate with our fellow-fufferers, refpecting this recent inftance of oppreffion, as well as the many other violations of our rights under which we have groaned for feveral years paft-This committee have briefly recapitulated the fenfe we have of our invaluable rights as men, as chriftians, and as fubjects; and wherein we conceive thofe rights to have been violated, which we are defirous may be laid before your town, that the fubject may be weighed as its importance requires, and the collected wifdom of the whole people, as far as poffible, be obtained, on a deliberation of fuch great and lasting moment as to involve in it the fate of all our pofterity.-Great pains has been taken to perfuade the British Administration to think, that the good people of this province in general are quiet and undisturbed at the late measures; and that any uneafinefs that appears, arifes only from a few factious, defigning, and difaffected, men. This renders it the more neceffary, that the fenfe of the people fhould be explicitly declared. A free communication of your fentiments to this town, of our common danger, is carneftly follicited and will be gratefully received. If you concur with us in opinion, that our rights are properly ftated, and that the feveral acts of Parliament, and Meafures of Administration, See Appendix, No. 4. pointed pointed out by us, are fubverfive of thefe rights, you will doubtless think it of the utmost importance that we stand firm as one man, to recover and fupport them; and to take fuch measures, by directing our representatives, or otherwife, as your wifdom and fortitude fhall dictate, to rescue from impending ruin our happy and glorious Conftitution. But if it fhould be the general voice of this province that the rights, as we have ftated them, do not belong to us; or, that the feveral meafures of adminiftration in the British Court, are no violations of these rights; or, that, if they are thus violated or infringed, they are not worth contendingfor, or refolutely maintaining;-should this be the general voice of the province, we must be refigned to our wretched fate; but fhall for ever lament the extinction of that generous ardour for civil and religious liberty, which, in the face of every danger, and even death itself, induced our fathers to forfake the bofom of their Native Country, and begin a fettlement on bare creation. But we trust this cannot be the cafe: We are fure your wifdom, your regard to yourselves and the rifing generation, cannot fuffer you to doze, or fit fupinely indifferent, on the brink of deftruction, while the iron hand of oppreffion is daily tearing the choiceft-fruit from the fair tree of liberty, planted by our worthy predeceffors, at the expence of their treasure, and abundantly watered with their blood. It is an obfervation of an eminent patriot, that a people long inured to hardfhips, lofe by degrees the very notions of liberty; they look upon themselves, as creatures at mercy, and that all impofitions, laid-on by fuperior hands, are legal and obligatory. But, thank Heaven, this is not yet verified in America! We have yet fome fhare of public virtue remaining: We are not afraid of poverty, but difdain flavery.-The fate of nations is fo precarious, and revolutions in ftates fo' often take place at an unexpected moment, when the hand of of power, by fraud or flattery, has fecured every avenue of retreat, and the minds of the fubject debased to its purpose, that it becomes every well-wisher to his country, while it has any remains of freedom, to keep an eagle-eye upon every innovation and ftretch of power, in those that have the rule over us. A recent inftance of this we have in the late revolutions in Sweden; by which the prince, once fubject to the laws of the state, has been able of a fudden, to declare himself an abfolute monarch. The Swedes were once Their minds are now a free, martial and valiant people: fo debased, that they even rejoice at being fubject to the caprice and arbitrary power of a tyrant, and kiss their chains. It makes us fhudder to think, the late measures of administration may be productive of the like catastrophe ; which Heaven forbid!--Let us confider, Brethren, we are ftruggling for our beft birth-rights and inheritance; which, being infringed, render all our bleffings precarious in their enjoyment, and confequently trifling in their value. Let us disappoint the men, who are raising themselves on the ruin of this country. Let us covince every invader of our freedom, that we will be as free as the conftitution our fathers recognized, will justify. The foregoing Report was twice read distinctly, and amended in the meeting. And then the question was put, Whether the same be accepted? And passed in the affirmative, Nem. Cor. A true Copy, Attest. WILLIAM COOPER, Town-Clerk. Upon a motion made, Voted, that the foregoing proceedings be attefted by the Town-Clerk, and printed in a pamphlet; and that the committee be defired to difpofe of Six Hundred Copies thereof to the Select-men of the towns in the province, and fuch other gentlemen as they fhall think fit. Voted, that the Town-Clerk be directed to fign the foregoing Letter, and forward as many of the fame to the Selectmen of each town in this province, as the committee shall judge proper, and direct. A true Copy, Atteft. WILLIAM COOPER, Town-Clerk. APPENDIX. |