Apology of the Paxton Volunteers - 18
‘Tis readily granted, that we should not resist him when he happens to mistake in the Execution of his Office, or in determining any Matter that lies within his proper Sphere: but his Commission as a civil Officer cannot warrant him to do any thing that lies out of his Province, or entitle him to a tame Submission from the Persons, that might suffer from such an usurpation. Would it not be right to resist a Constable, that would plead his Commission, as giving him a Right to sit on the Bench with the Magistrates? Would it not be right to resist a Member of the Assembly, who would plead that his being a Representative of the free Men of the Province entitled and authorized him to usurp the federative Powers of Government, & interfere at public Treaties with Enemies? And would it not be right to resist a Justice of the Peace, if he would plead his Commission as giving him a Power of making Laws, striking Money, proclaiming War, making Peace, trying Criminals & hanging Malefactors? And can it be wrong to resist a civil Magistrate, if he would presume upon his Commission to protect his Majesty’s most dangerous Enemies? Would not the Attempt argue Disloyalty to his Majesty & Disaffection to his Government. And can it be wrong to oppose what arises from so dangerous a Principle? Can it be wrong to oppose, what must necessarily terminate in the Subversion of all Order & Government?
But we understand that the Manner of our coming down to Germantown has been severely condemned as illegal & subversive of government.--We need not say much upon this Head. We injured no Man on the Road, used no Violence to any; payed for everything that we had & were guilty of no Irregularities. We came down to remonstrate & petition his honour the Governour & the honourable Assembly of the Province, for a Redress of the many Grievances under which we groan. We had the satisfaction to find, that the Attorney General of the Province, the Mayor of the City, with some members of the Assembly & other Gentlemen whom the Governour condescended to send out to converse with us at Germantown declared in the plainest Manner that we had hitherto done Nothing inconsistent with our Duty to the best of Kings, with our Privileges as British Subjects, the Dignity of Government, or the Character of good Subjects. And we can assure the Publick that the same was proclaimed in the most public Manner by Appointment
