thing I have said. Officers employed by the crown, are, while
according to the laws they conduct themselves, entitled to legal
obedience and sincere respect. These it is a duty to render them,
and these no good or prudent person will withhold. But when these
officers, thro' rashness or design, endeavour to enlarge their
authority beyond its due limits, and expect improper concessions
to be made to them, from regard for the employments they bear,
their attempts should be considered as equal injuries to the crown
and people, and should be courageously and constantly opposed. To
suffer our ideas to be confounded by names, on such occasions, would
certainly be an inexcusable weakness, and probably, an irremediable
error.
We have reason to believe, that several of his Majesty's present
ministers are good men, and friends to our country; and it seems
not unlikely, that by a particular concurrence of events, we have
been treated a little more severely than they wished we should
be. They might not think it prudent to stem a torrent. But what
is the difference to us, whether arbitrary acts take their rise
from ministers, or are permitted by them? Ought any point to be
allowed to a good[65] minister, that should be denied to a bad one?
The mortality of ministers is a very frail mortality. A * * * may
succeed a Shelburne--a * * * may succeed a Conway.
[65] "Ubi imperium ad ignaros aut minus bonos pervenit; novum
illud exemplum, ad dignis et idoneis, ad indignos et non idoneos
transfertur."
Sall. Bed. Cat. s. 50.
We find a new kind of minister lately spoken of at home----"The
minister of the house of Commons." The term seems to have particular
propriety when referred to these colonies, with a different meaning
annexed to it, from that in which it is taken there. By the word
"minister" we may understand not only a servant of the crown, but a
man of influence among the Commons, who regard themselves as having
a share of the sovereignty over us. The minister of the house may,
in a point respecting the colonies, be so strong, that the minister
of the crown in the house, if he is a distinct person, may not
chuse, even where his sentiments are favourable to us, to come to a
pitched battle upon our account. For tho' I have the highest opinion
of the deference of the house for the King's minister; yet he may
be so good natured as not to put it to the test, except it be for
the mere and immediate profit of his master or himself.
But whatever kind of minister he is, that attempts to innovate a
single iota in the privileges of these colonies, him I hope you will
undauntedly oppose, and that you will never suffer yourselves to be
either cheated or frightened into any unworthy obsequiousness. On
such emergencies you may surely without presumption believe that
ALMIGHTY GOD himself will look down upon your righteous contest with
gracious approbation. You will be a "Band of brother's" cemented by
the dearest ties--and strengthened with inconceivable supplies of
force and constancy, by that sympathetic ardour which animates good
men, confederated in a good cause. Your honour and welfare will be,
as they now are, most intimately concerned; and besides----you are
assigned by Divine Providence, in the appointed order of things,
the protectors of unborn ages, whose fate depends upon your virtue.
Whether they shall arise the noble and indisputable heirs of the
richest patrimonies, or the dastardly and hereditary drudges of
imperious task-masters, you must determine.
To discharge this double duty to yourselves and to your
posterity; you have nothing to do, but to call forth into
use the good sense and spirit, of which you are possessed.
You have nothing to do, but to conduct your affairspeaceably----
prudently----firmly----jointly. By these means you will support the
character of freemen, without losing that of faithful subjects--a
good character in any government--one of the best under a British
government. You will prove that Americans have that true magnanimity
of soul, that can resent injuries without falling into rage; and
that tho' your devotion to Great-Britain is the most affectionate,
yet you can make proper distinctions, and know what you owe to
yourselves as well as to her----you will, at the same time that
you advance your interests, advance your reputation--you will
convince the world of the justice of your demands, and the purity
of your intentions--while all mankind must with unceasing applauses
confess, that you indeed deserve liberty, who so well understand it,
so passionately love it, so temperately enjoy it, and so wisely,
bravely, and virtuously, assert, maintain, and defend it.
"_Certe ego libertatem quæ mihi a parente meo tradita est,
experiar, verum id frustra, an ob rem faciam, in vestra manu
situm est, quirites._"
"For my part, I am resolved strenuously to contend for the
liberty delivered down to me from my ancestors; but whether
I shall do this effectually or not, depends on you, my
countrymen."
How little soever one is able to write, yet, when the liberties
of one's country are threatened, it is still more difficult to be
silent.
A FARMER.
_Is there not the greatest reason to hope, if the universal sense of
the colonies is immediately exprest by resolves of the assemblies,
in support of their rights; by instructions to their agents on the
subject; and by petitions to the crown and parliament for redress;
that those measures will have the same success now that they had in
the time of the Stamp-act._
To the ingenious Author of certain patriotic Letters, subscribed A
FARMER.
MUCH RESPECTED SIR,
When the rights and liberties of the numerous and loyal inhabitants
of this extensive continent are in imminent danger,--when the
inveterate enemies of these colonies are not more assiduous to forge
fetters for them, than diligent to delude the people, and zealous to
persuade them to an indolent acquiescence: At this alarming period,
when to reluct is deemed a revolt, and to oppose such measures as
are injudicious and destructive, is construed as a formal attempt
to subvert order and government; when to reason is to rebel; and a
ready submission to the rod of power, is sollicited by the tenders
of place and patronage, or urged by the menace of danger and
disgrace: 'Tis to YOU, worthy SIR, that AMERICA is obliged, for
a most seasonable, sensible, loyal, and vigorous vindication of
her invaded rights and liberties: 'Tis to YOU, the distinguished
honour is due; that when many of the friends of liberty were ready
to fear its utter subversion: Armed with truth, supported by the
immutable laws of nature, the common inheritance of man, and leaning
on the pillars of the BRITISH constitution; you seasonably brought
your aid, opposed impending ruin, awakened the most indolent and
inactive, to a sense of danger, re-animated the hopes of those,
who had before exerted themselves in the cause of freedom, and
instructed AMERICA in the best means to obtain redress.
Nor is this western world alone indebted to your wisdom, fortitude,
and patriotism: GREAT-BRITAIN also may be confirmed by you, that to
be truly great and successful, she must be just: That to oppress
AMERICA, is to violate her own honours, defeat her brightest
prospects, and contract her spreading empire.
To such eminent worth and virtue, the inhabitants of the town of
BOSTON, the capital of the province of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, in
full town meeting assembled, express their earliest gratitude.
Actuated themselves by the same generous principles, which appear
with so much lustre in your useful labours, they will not fail
warmly to recommend, and industriously to promote that union among
the several colonies, which is so indispensably necessary for the
security of the whole.
Tho' such superior merit must assuredly, in the closest recess,
enjoy the divine satisfaction of having served, and possibly
saved this people; tho' veiled from our view, you modestly shun
the deserved applause of millions; permit us to intrude upon your
retirement, and salute The FARMER, as the FRIEND OF AMERICANS, and
the common benefactor of mankind.
_Boston, March 22, 1768._
The above letter was read, and unanimously accepted by the town,
and ordered to be published in the several news-papers.
_Attest._ WILLIAM COOPER, Town-Clerk.
[Illustration: logo]
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have
been retained as printed.
Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where
the missing quote should be placed.
In the book there are notes at the bottom of pages xxxii to xxxvii
referring to certain toasts. For ease of reading, the transcriber
has moved the notes to follow the toast to which it refers.