The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: American politics before the revolution

Two messages from the governor; one communicating a design of
general Shirley's to build a fort within the limits of his majesty's
territories near Crown Point, to which the assembly is required to
contribute; and the other, notifying first the arrival of Braddock's
forces, and then the expectations entertained at home, that the colo-
nies would raise an additional number of forces, furnish provisions,
&c. all terminated with a kind of menace of the resentment of his
majesty and the parliament, in case of a disappointment

Twenty-five thousand pounds granted to the king's use, to be raised

by an emission of paper bills to the same amount, and to be sunk by

an extension of the excise for ten years

Refused by the governor, on the old pretence of a contrary instruc-
tion

A provision demanded for the expence of an Indian treaty

A memorial to the assembly from Mr. Quincy, a commissioner from

the government of Massachusetts-bay, expressing both his concern

that the governor could not be induced to pass the said money-bili,

and his acknowlegments of the cheerfulness shewn by them in

granting 10,0001. for victualling the forces to be employed in New ́

England, being part of the money so granted; and urging them to

find out some other means of rendering their purpose effectual

The assembly resolves to raise the said sum on the credit of the pro-

vince

Another paper of acknowlegement from the said Mr. Quincy

The governor refuses to return the said bill to the assembly; informs

them the French had fitted out fifteen sail of the line, with 6000

land forces, and calls upon them to put the province into a state of

defence, as the enemy could not be ignorant how plentiful and de-

defenceless it was; yet advises a short adjournment

They meet again, and a squabble arising between them about a bill

merely provincial, he revives the former controversy

ib.

ib.

A hardy assertion concerning the paper-money act passed by governor
Thomas, refuted by a fact

ib.

An acknowlegment from the officers of the regular forces of certain
presents made to them by the assembly

ib.

The governor's message to the assembly, said to be founded on a re-
presentation of general Braddock's requiring them to enable him
to furnish the said general with provisions under proper convoys,
&c. &c.

The assembly desire to have the general's letter laid before them,

which the governor declines, and thereby occasions a new contro-

versy

The assembly send up two other bills, one of 10,000l. for exchanging

old bills; and one of 15,000/. for the king's use, on the model of

that formerly passed by governor Thomas, and confirmed at home

by the royal authority, since the instruction so often cited had been

sent to the said governor

ib.

198

201

Such amendments offered to it by the governor, as he could not but

be pre-convincd, would not be allowed

203

The assembly adjourn till September; but are again convoked in July

on occasion of Braddock's defeat

204

The governor's speech

205

The assembly vote an aid of 50,0007. by a tax on all real and personal

ib.

estates

The governor makes a pompous offer in the proprietary's name, of

certain lands west of the Allegheny mountains, to such military ad-

venturers as would fight for them; and calls upon the assembly to

afford some assistance to such as should accept the same

206

A remonstrance which certain inhabitants of certain places were in-
duced to present to the assembly

ib.

The address of the assembly to the governor

207

Their 50,000l. money-bill returned, with an amendment, by which the

whole proprietary-estate was to be exempted from the tax

208

The message of the assembly to the governor on that occasion, de-

Other papers which passed between them at the same crisis

216

The residue of Braddock's troops being recalled from the frontier,

notwithstanding on application of the assembly to the governor, re-

questing their continuance there, he calls upon the house to provide

for the security of the back inhabitants

218

A remark thereon

220

Page

The governor alarms and embarrasses them with petitions from cer-

tain persons requiring to be armed; intelligence of Indians actually

set out, to fall upon their frontier; recommendations to provide by

law against exporting provisions to the enemy, as a requisite to fa-

cilitate the reduction of Louisburgh; and demands of all manner of

things for the assistance of col. Dunbar, who, by orders from gene-

ral Shirley, was again to proceed towards fort Duquesne

A proposal from certain gentlemen of Philadelphia to subscribe 5007.

in lieu of the proprietary proportion of the tax in question, and upon

a presumption that the proprietaries would honorably reimburse

them

The assembly send up their bill to the governor again, together with

the said proposal as containing by implication an acknowlegment

that the tax was founded in equity, and also farther security to the

governor, in case he should give his assent to the bill

Their message to the governor, correcting his manner of stating the

Louisburg Point, and observing, that all required of them from

New England was to prolong the excellent laws they had already

Some seasonable remark

ib.

The governor's verbal answer to the assembly's message concerning

the money-bill, adhering to his amendment

225

He contends for a militia

226

The assembly order 1000 if so much remained in their treasury, to
arm the back inhabitants

ib.

They signify their purpose to adjourn; and refer the affair of a militia
to a new assembly

ib.

Their proceedings at the next meeting; the governor demands an ad-

ditional supply of provision to be sent to Albany, at the requisition

of governor Phipps, for the use of the forces of Massachusetts-bay,

and another supply for the provincial troops of Connecticut and

Rhode-island, which he was informed were raised in addition to

those already employed in the reduction of Crown Point

The assembly apply for a sight of Phipp's letter, which is refused

The old controversy renewed

228

230

A new one concerning the roads opened at the expence of the pro-

vince for the convenience of the king's forces, which is carried on

with much acrimony on both sides

As a last effort for the public service the assembly authorize by vote

a loan, or voluntary subscription, of 10,000l. to be raised in a fort-

night, and refer the lenders to the next assembly for payment

An apology for the length of this treatise; and a brief state of the

province at this period

The new assembly, after a session of four days, suffered to adjourn

themselves without proceeding to business, for want of having the

231

239

240

intelligence then in the governor's hands in due form imparted to

them

Being reconvoked, the governor informs them, that a party of French

and Indians had passed the mountains, and were encamped within

eighty miles of the capital, and after a liberal intermixture of up-

braidings and self-sufficiencies, demands a supply, premising, that

it might be raised by an emission of any sum in paper, provided

funds were found for sinking it in five years, &c.

A reference to the only act of parliament extant, and that an inef-

fectual one, to prevent the oppressions practised by provincial go-

vernors

Petitions of various kinds and from various quarters, presented to the

assembly

The assembly reduce and rectify the matter of alarm communicated

by the governor, and advise such measures as might reclaim the

Indians, &c.

A new message concerning the depredations of the Indians
Sixty thousand pounds granted, to be struck in bills of credit, which
were to be sunk by a tax of six-pence in the pound, and a poll tax
of ten shillings a head yearly, for four years; which the governor
refuses, and talks of setting off for the back counties

A new message reporting, that the Susquehanna Indians had offered
their service to the province, provided it was accepted without delay
Two messages from the assembly to the governor, the first concerning
peace with the Indians, and the money-bill; the other an answer to
his concerning the Susquehanna Indians

They send up a bill for regulating the Indian trade

The famous Kentish petition to the house of commons, in 1701, out-

done by the mayor of Philadelphia, and one hundred and thirty

three other inconsiderates, in a demand on their assembly to con-

stitute a militia forthwith

Page

ib.

A petition of certain of the people called quakers, for peaceable mea-

sures

257

Progress of the controversy concerning the bill, which the governor

offers to pass with a suspending clause

258

Resolutions of the assembly hereupon

ib.

Message from the governor concerning another Indian massacre, and

demanding an immediate supply, &c.

259

Another from the assembly to him, justifying their bill both in matter
and manner

ib.

They send him up a militia bill

262

The governor's invective against their whole conduct

ib.

He passes the militia bill, under a specific declaration that it was an

improper one

265

He communicates to the assembly a discussion of Indian affairs, as
prepared by his council; calls upon them to provide for a swarm of

French banished out of Nova Scotia; and signifies that the proprie-

taries had sent an order upon their receiver-general, for 50007. as a

free gift to the public

Page

266

Another remonstrance from the mayor of Philadelphia and his posse 267

The assembly's reply to the governor's invective, which for the pre-

sent they declined making use of

ib.

The answer they did make use of

270

Parley between the speaker and twenty-nine petitioners, or rather pre-

scribers to the assembly

273

Unanimous resolutions concerning the right of granting supplies to the
crown; and a new money-bill, out of which the proprietary estate
was excepted, in consideration of the late grant of 50007.

The assembly's message to the governor explaining the use and press-

ing the dispatch of the Indian trade-bill

274

275