As the Happiness of the People is the sole End of Government, So the Consent of the People is the only Foundation of it, in Reason, Morality, and the natural Fitness of things: and therefore every Act of Government, every Exercise of Sovereignty, against, or without, the Consent of the People, is Injustice, Usurpation, and Tyranny.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)

“A Proclamation by the General Court of Massachusetts” (1776-01-19)
    (Source)

The document was begun by the House on 1775-12-18 to outline reasons why judicial officers appointed by the Council ought to be accepted by counties (more background here). The proclamation was approved by the House on 1776-01-23, and printed in the Boston Gazette on 1776-02-12.

In Adams' manuscript of the document it reads, "As the Happiness of the People alone."