The high military tone of the country people, is to be placed chiefly to the account of the two bills “for regulating the government of the Massachusetts,” and “the impartial administration of justice in it.” These bills have proposed so thorough a change in the civil and religious liberties of towns and individuals, that they view themselves as intentionally deprived of every privilege, and reduced to the necessity of fighting for all they hold dear to them. It is of the utmost consequence that juries should not be packed. The accustomed mode of electing them is excellent, but liable to abuse, and there “may have been instances wherein persons who have no regard to religion and to divine revelation, have been really picked up to serve a turn.”[110] But this will not justify that most execrable alteration of leaving it in the power of the governor and council, through the aid of the sheriff, to obtain such a jury in each cause, as may best suit their passions and interests, whereby the lives and properties of the subjects are put into their hands without controul.[111] It is also to be enacted, by the regulating bill, that after the first of August, 1774, there shall be no town-meetings, without the leave of the governor or lieutenant governor, in writing, expressing the special business of such meetings, first obtained, except the annual meetings in March, for the choice of select men, constables, and other officers; and in May, for the election of representatives, and meetings to fill up the offices aforesaid, on death or removal; and that no other matter shall be treated of at such meetings except the election of aforesaid officers or representatives, nor at any other meeting, except the business expressed in the leave given. A more obnoxious alteration could scarce have been invented.