The Conduct of the Paxton Men Impartially Represented - 33
Salus Populi Suprema Lex esto; is a Sentence that deserves to be written in Letters of Gold---It is a Sentence that should be the MOTTO of every Government, where LIBERTY and FREEDOM have any Existence.
We are told that in the wise, the free Cities of ATHENS and ROME, “The lawful Authority of the PEOPLE, the sacred Privileges of the PEOPLE, the inviolable Majesty of the PEOPLE, the unappealable judgement of the PEOPLE, were common Phrases.
But it seems that there are Men in PENNSYLVANIA, who (to use the Words of the great ALGERNON SIDNEY) look upon the People “like Asses and Mastiff Dogs, who ought to work and to fight, to be oppress’d and kill’d for them.”---And that they have neither Privilege or Authority to complain of their Sufferings, or remonstrate their Grievances.
However, I would have such Men know, that (whatever contracted Sentiments that may entertain) as a Patriot Writer justly observes, “It is the undoubted Right of the People, and acknowldedg’d to be so in the Bill of Rights pass’d in the Reign of King CHARLES I. and since by the Act of Settlement of the CROWN at the REVOLUTION, to represent their publick Grievances, and to petition for Redress to those whose Duty it is to right them, or to see them righted: And it is certain, that in all Countries, the People’s misfortunes are greater or less, in Proportion as this Right is encourag’d or check’d.”
It is indeed the best and only just Way that they can take to breathe their Grievances; and whenever this Way has been taken even KINGS have always accepted their Application.----The PARLIAMENTS of GREAT-BRITAIN too, who are the grand Barriers of our LIBERTY, have always
