The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

In Statu Romano, Imperium in magistratibus. Authoritatem in Senatu. Potestatem in Plebe. MAJESTATEM IN POPULO, jure dicebant. Bodin de Rep. lib. 2. c. 1.

That the majesty of the people was an acknowledged term many years past as when Bodin wrote; it is the strongest expression that any language affords, to denote the origin of power to be in the people: & that people which gives away their liberty into the hands of an uncontrollable body of men, deserve to be enslaved without pity.

The institution of government was wholly for the benefit of the people, and when any form is adopted that does not effectually answer that great end, it ought to be remonstrated against, exposed and even annihilated, & the public peace, liberty & safety guarded and protected from every such pernicious and destructive plans.

AMERICA now glories in an independency that will surprise the world, manifestly instituted by the supreme direction of God himself, and none but an Atheist can or will deny it—There have been so many apparent events happened from the commencement of the British ministerial tyranny, that have conspired as it were to force America into this state, that they appear even supernatural and miraculous: may that same sovereign disposer of sublunary things still appear for her, and tho' at this time she is attacked by unnatural enemies without, & still more wicked wretches within who are aiming to destroy her, may they fall into those very pits themselves they have digged for her, and like Haman be hang'd on the very gallows they have erected for others—The controversy is great & interesting, the struggle mighty and grand, the success truly desirable, and by perseverance easily attainable, let us all unite with heart and hand to support that independency which must thus be acknowledged to be the gift of heaven, and while we are opposing the common enemy, let us not forget our own governmental police & security, but attentively observe the conduct of our rulers.

We are now called to form plans of government that may be permanent and lasting, that are not incompatible and inconsistent in their natures with each other, and which are most consonant to the dignity & majesty of the people.

A late writer in the Massachusetts Spy, for May last says, "I revere a government in which the regal power has no part, and which I hope will be universally established in these colonies, but would most sacredly guard the fountains of that government, lest any thing should gain admittance, which might contaminate its purity, obstruct its due course and destroy its salutary influence"—The sentiments of this author are genuinely patriotic, and every gentleman of any feeling for his native country must approve them,—those who are instrumental to the subversion of the very principles of good government, should be attentively watched and guarded. The ambition of men is unbounded, and no man breathing should be intrusted with too much power nor with offices and places opposite in their instructions, incompatible with each other. The public have an inherent right to complain of Grievances and to request remedies. Under the king of Britain's late government of this state of New-Hampshire the people complained of the court of appeals, and the family compact so called, which meant the Councellors, who were appointed by the king out of a family connection, and that connection shared all the places of honor and profit amongst themselves and friends—Our present general assembly, thank God, have abolished that iniquitous court, whose members by its constitution, were uncontrouled judges and juries at the same time—we could have wished to see the same assembly would have condemned the dangerous consequences of lodging the legislative and executive powers in the same persons, which is a political solecism, and equally destructive as the court of appeals. For the remedy of which no person should sustain but one office at a time under the government, and all officers to have salaries in proportion to the importance of their offices, but such a regulation should not take place till made by an assembly, the members of which have no places themselves, but their seats in said assemblies, otherwise they will be judges of their own wages which ought never to be the case in any government, the fountains of which ought to be as pure and free as a living spring.

AMICUS REIPUBLICÆ.