The History of the Insurrections, by George Minot

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measures ; and, the rules of decency aside, there is no law to prevent the inhabitants of a township or plantation, advising the legislature respecting the most intricate concerns of the nation. The government too, annually reverts into the hands of those for formed it. All publick officers are thrown back into the class of private citizens, whence they cannot ascend again but by the voice of the electors : And so small are the qualifications of voters, that scarce a single man is excluded from his equal share in creating even the first magistrate in the community. In a system thus limited and guarded on all sides, and thus open to the interference of the citizens even during its short continuance, there seems to be no room for popular suspicion. But, in a society where that great prerogative of human nature, self government, has been literally exercised, a desire of correcting what appears to be wrong, will naturally exist. And, if the authority of their own immediate establishment seems averse from adopting alterations, there wants that deference to lead the people to doubt of their projects, which a government established by their forefathers, and receiving their implicit obedience from the force of habit, though less perfect in its formation, and less wisely administered, might not fail to inspire. Such possibly were the feelings of a number of