to the people of this province, especially for some years past, wherein we find the assemblies opened their hands liberally to all the purposes of peace, among those who could best, under God, preserve our distant settlements against the depredations of an active and powerful enemy; without strictly enquiring at that time, how far the people alone ought to bear the burden of those expences. But as that burden became yearly more and more heavy, the assemblies were naturally led to request the assistance of the proprietaries, and we hoped an application so apparently reasonable might have their approbation. We are therefore much concerned to receive an answer so different from our expectations, in which the proprietaries are pleased to say, "that they do not conceive themselves under any obligation to contribute to Indian or any other public expences, even though taxes were laid on the people for the charges of government; but as there is not one shilling levied on the people for that service, there is the less reason for asking any thing of them. Notwithstanding which, they have charged themselves with paying to the interpreter, much more than could be due to him on any treaties for land, and are at this time at the expence of maintaining his son, with a tutor, in the Indian country, to learn their language and customs for the service of the province, as well as of sundry other charges on Indian affairs. That they have been at considerable expence for the service of the province, both in England and here; that they purchase the land from the Indians, and pay them for it; and that they are under no greater obligation to contribute to the public charges than any other chief governor of any of the other colonies.'

Upon which we beg leave respectfully to represent to our proprietaries, that the preserving a good understanding with the Indians, more particularly advances the interest and value of the proprietary estate than that of any other estate in the province, as it gives the proprietaries an opportunity of purchasing at a low price, and selling at high rates, great tracts of land on the frontiers, which would otherwise be impracticable. That therefore, though they may conceive themselves under no obligation by ław, they are under the much stronger obligations of natural equity and justice, to contribute to the expence of those Indian treaties and presents, by which that good understanding, so beneficial to them, is maintained. That although formal taxes have not been laid in this province during some years past, for the support of the proprietaries lieutenant-governor, and defraying the charges of Indian treaties, yet the interest of our paper-money is a virtual tax on the people, as it arises out of, and is paid by, their labour, and our excise is a real tax, yielding about three thousand pounds per annum, which is principally expended in those services, besides the tax of licences of various kinds, amounting to considerable sums yearly, which have been appropriated wholly to the support of the governor. That the assemblies of this province have always paid the accounts of our Indian interpreter for his public services to his full satisfaction; and we believe future assemblies will not fail to do, in that respect, what may reasonably be expected from them, when his son shall be thought qualified to succeed him. Nor

do we doubt their discharging all just debts, for expences properly charge. able to the province, whether made here or in England, whenever the accounts are exhibited. We are nevertheless thankful to our proprietaries for their care in our affairs, and their endeavours to provide a well qualified successor to our present interpreter, as such a one may be of service to the public, as well as to the private interests of their family.

We would farther entreat our proprietaries to consider, that their great estate not lying in Britain, is happily exempt from the burdens borne by their fellow-subjects there, and cannot, by any law of ours, now in being, be taxed here. That therefore, as they are not obliged, on account of that estate, to bear any part of the charge of any war the British nation may be involved in, they may with us more freely contribute to the expence of preserving peace, especially on the borders of their own lands, as the value of those lands so much depends upon it.

We beg leave further to observe to our proprietaries, that the act forbidding all others to purchase lands of the natives, establishes a monopoly solely in their favor; that therefore they ought to bear the whole charge of treaties with the Indians for land only, as they reap the whole benefit. And that their paying for land (bought, as we conceive, much the cheaper for the provincial presents accompanying those treaties) which land they sell again to vast advantage, is not a satisfactory reason why they should not bear a part of the charge of such other treaties, as tend to the common welfare and peace of the province.

Upon the whole, since the proprietaries interests are so constantly intermixed, more or less, with those of the province, in all treaties with our Indian allies; and since it appears that the proprietaries think they already pay more than their share, and the people (who have disbursed near five thousand pounds within these four years, on those occasions) think they pay abundantly too much; we apprehend that the surest way to prevent dissatisfaction on all sides, will be, to fix a certain proportion of the charge of all future provincial treaties with the Indians, to be paid by the proprietaries and province respectively; and this, we hope, they will on further consideration agree to, not only as it is in itself an equitable proposal, but as it may tend to preserve that union and harmony between the proprietaries and people, so evidently advantageous to both.

Signed, by order of the house,

ISAAC NORRIS, SPEAKER

THE

Proprietaries Answer,

TO THE FOREGOING

REPRESENTATION

OF THE

House of Representatives.

Laid before the house, May 23, 1753.

GENTLEMEN,

REPORT

ON THE

Proprietaries Answer, &c. In obedience to the order of the house, your committee have considered the representation made by a former assembly to the proprietaries, concerning Indian affairs, with their answer delivered to this house; and since all further application to the proprietaries on the subject of that representation is now forbidden, and they seem to require that their answer should be put on the minutes of assembly, we are of opinion that the representation not hitherto made public should accompany it, with such of the following remarks made on each paragraph of the said answer as the house shall think proper. 1. ON the first paragraph of the answer, we shall just observe, that the declaration it contains is a noble one, and worthy of the rank our proprietaries hold among us; we only wish that in the present case they had thought fit to give a proof of the sincerity with which it is made, such as would have been satisfactory to others, since our assemblies are esteemed interested judges.

1. THE true and real interest of the people whom you represent is, as it ought to be, the principal object of our concern; we shall, on all occasions, shew them that we kave it constantly in view; we will use our utmost endeavours to procure it, at the expence of our own private fortunes, whenever it appears to us necessary; and, in considering the matter of your representation, shall endeavour to act such a part as would be thought just, by persons wholly disinterested, both with regard to us and them.

2. That the representatives of the people are not so disinterested, seems most certain; wherefore, supposing they saw this matter in a light very different from that in which it appears to us, and that they were not actuated by any inclination on the one hand to oppose our interest, or on the other to influence the weaker part of the electors hy appearing zealous for theirs (which we would trust and hope is the case) yet we may continue to differ in sentiments from them on the necessity of the de

2. The insinuation in the second paragraph, as if the assembly were actuated by an inclination to oppose the proprietary interests, we look upon to be injurious; and as groundless as the other supposition, that the members might have in view their future election, of which we shall take farther notice when we come to the sixth paragraph, where it is again repeated. No instance can be given of that assembly's opposing, or attempting to oppose, the proprietary

sired assistance, without being liable to any imputation of neglecting the interest of the province in the opinion of

the world.

interest. It rather appears that they thought they were consulting those interests in the very point in question, if it be consistent with the proprie. tary interest to have a good under

standing with the people; since the representation expressly proposed a method of preventing misunderstandings for the future.

3. After we had ordered our governor to give you the answer, which he did, to your former application, we had no reason to expect a repetition of the application directly to ourselves; as you might well suppose we had considered the matter before we had returned our first answer, and the repeating the request could only produce the repeating the answer; the occasion for which does not appear to us. It is possible, that one purpose may be, in order to shew, more publicly, this difference in opinion between us and your selves; and if that was ever intended, it will be convenient that we should set this matter in a clear light (although it may make our answer longer than we could wish) that the true state of the matter may appear.

4. We did not speak our own sentiments only when we before said, we were under no greater obligation to contribute to the public charges than any chief governor of another colony; that was the opinion of the lords of trade, when, upon an application made to the king, by many considerable inhabitants of the province, that he would be pleased to give some orders for their defence; the counsel, employed by the agent of the house of representatives, insisted, that, if any such preparations were ne cessary, the proprietaries ought to be at the expence of them; but their lordships declared it their opinion, that we were not obliged to be at any expence of that

3. In the third paragraph, the representation is treated as a mere repetition of a former application, and therefore improper, as "repeating the request could only produce the repeating the answer;" but the representation appears to your committee to contain, not only a repetition of the request, but new reasons in support of it, and answers to such as had been given for refusing it. And such a repetition of an application we think justifiable in all cases; except where we can be sure that the first thoughts of the persons applied to, are infallibly right; or if wrong, that they are incapable of hearing reason.

4. With regard to the opinion said to be declared by the lords of trade, "that our proprietaries were no more obliged to contribute to public charges than any other governor in chief of the king's colonies;" your committee presume to suppose their lordships could only mean, that as governor in chief the proprietaries were not obliged by law; and not, that as proprietaries they were not obliged in equity. The latter is the point at present in dispute between the proprietaries and people of Pennsylvania, though in this paragraph evaded. The assembly mention no other obligation but such as in their opinion

nature, more than any other governor in arises from reason and justice; they chief of the king's colonies. humbly submit their reasons to the proprietaries consideration, and from their equity only, they hope a compliance with the request. The position understood as the proprietaries would understand it, must as well hold good among the governed as the governors of the colonies; for should the wealthiest inhabitant say, he ought to pay no more towards public charges than any other inhabitant, he would be right, considering him merely as an inhabitant; but as a possessor of property, he would be wrong; and therefore laws are made, obliging such as would not otherwise be just, to pay in proportion to their substance.

5. We are sensible that our honored father, in the first settlement of the province, and at all times after, was strict ly careful to do justice to the Indians, and purchased land from them before it was settled; but, we believe, always at his own charge; at least we do not find a single instance of a purchase having been made at the expence of the people. So that what share they had in such purchases, we are at a loss to know, other than the benefits and conveniencies which arose from the mutual exchange of friendly offices with the natives.

5. The fifth paragraph seems intended to combat an assertion, that the purchases from the Indians were made with the people's money. As we find no such assertion in the representation, we do not think it necessary at present to enquire how far, or in what instances, the people have had a share directly or indirectly in any such purchases. The representation only intimates, that the house conceived, treaties for the purchase of land were made on more reasonable terms to the proprietaries for the provincial presents accompanying such treaties; and that this was an additional reason why the proprietaries should bear a proportionable part, at least, of the expence of such presents; since, besides their share of "the common benefits and conveniencies, which arise from the mutual exchange of friendly offices with the Indians," they reap a particular advantage to themselves, and that a very considerable one. This reason we apprehend is not answered in the present paragraph; it is only evaded, by changing the state of the question. A subtlety, in our opinion, unworthy the dignity of the proprietaries and chief governors of a province.

6. Had the necessary public charges amounted to more than the revenue of the province, and a general tax been laid on the people to defray the same, there might then have been some colour to desire that we should contribute; but as no such tax has, for very many years, been or need to be laid, and the charge of government amounts to little

6. On the sixth paragraph we would observe, that the request to the proprietaries, that they would be pleased to bear a part of Indian expences, was founded on the supposed equity of the case; and that they would consent to settle the proportion to be paid by them, was proposed as a means of preventing dissatisfactions