The Works of the Late Dr. Benjamin Franklin ...

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242

244

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

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

vernors

245

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

assembly

246

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

247

ib.

250

255

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 50001. as a

free gift to the public

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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

The answer they did make use of

ib.

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 5000/.

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

ing the dispatch of the Indian trade-bill

274

275

The governors evasive answer

ib.

His message desiring the advice of the house

276

The assembly's answer

Their message relative to the complaint of the Shawanese Indians

-277

Their resolution concerning the Indian trade-bill

ib.

Also concerning irregular and improper petitions

278

They adjourn; and two months after are re-assembled by special sum-

mons

280

The governor's message on that occasion

ib.

The message of the assembly in regard to the inlisting purchased ser-

vants

283

General Shirley's letter of acknowlegment for a voluntary present of

clothing sent by the province to his troops

284

The assembly remind the governor of the Indian trade-bill

286

He returns it with amendments, as also their bill for extending the ex-
cise

ib.

They adhere to their bills and assign their reasons

287

The governor goes to Newcastle, and the assembly adjourn

ib.

Sir William Johnson's treaty with the Six Nations laid before them
at their next meeting

ib.

The governor appearing strongly inclined to involve the province in a
war with the Delawares and Shawanese, some of the people called
quakers petition for pacific measures

ib.

The governor on the other hand alarms the house with an account of a

number of people coming in a body upon them

288

Their equanimity on that occasion

ib.

The governor takes advantage of this incident to declare war against
the said two Indian nations

ib.

He also demands farther supplies, and intimates, that certain Indians

long subsisted by the province were retiring in discontent, &c.

The assembly's answer

289

Page

The return made by the governor

289

The resolutions of the assembly concerning a plan of military opera-

tions communicated to them by the governor

290

They adjourn and are re-assembled

291

The governor's message to them from a place called Harris's ferry

A petition of the association companies in Philadelphia, concerning
the insufficiency of the militia-law

292

ib.

The reply of the assembly to the governor's message, accompanied

with a bill for prohibiting the exportation of provisions

Another session, and two other messages from the governor, who was

still posted at Harris's-ferry

293

294

A money-bill ordered, but postponed on the receipt of intelligence

from sir Charles Hardy and sir William Johnson, that the Delawares

and Shawanese were disposed to renew their alliance

The governor proclaims a suspension of arms

295

The assembly's message to him, in which they again press him to
pass the Indian trade-bill; he promises to reconsider it; and a second
time calls upon them to make some (additional) provision for his
support

296

ib.

[For a particular account of the nature of the support or salary of the
governors of Pennsylvania. See the assembly's message in the appen-
dix, page 360]

Six members desire leave upon the adjournment to quit their seats,
and at the next session present a written paper to the house as a tes-
timonial thereof

Their resignation accepted, and new writs issued

The governor's message notifying the appointment of lord Loudon to

be commander in chief in America, as also the act of parliament

for raising a regiment of foreigners; recommending particularly,

that the masters of such indented servants as should engage in the

service might be indemnified; and that, as by the expiration of an

act passed in the lower counties, the Pennsylvanian act lately passed,

would expire also, they would prepare a proper bill for continuing

the embargo, &c.

The assembly's reply, in which they shew, the governor had invali-
dated the acts of all the other colonies by the law he had passed
in the lower counties

Their message concerning the excise and Indian trade bills; and his

answer, that he could not recede from his amendments because of

his proprietary instruction

The instruction itself

A remark; and the resolution of the house on the said instruction

An act for emitting 40007. in bills of credit, on the behalf of the pro-

prietaries, to supply so far the public occasions, till their receiver-

general should be enabled by his receipt to make good their order

ib.

bi.

Page

An act for striking and issuing the sum of 40,0001. for the king's use,

sent up to the governor

303

His message concerning an attack to be apprehended from the Indians
about harvest-time

ib.

The assembly's answer

ib.

A bill to permit the exportation of provisions for the king's service,

notwithstanding the act of prohibition

304

The governor's evasive conduct with relation thereto

The assembly apprize him, July 5, of their intention to adjourn till
August 2, and are told he has no objection
Notwithstanding which, he re-assembles them a fortnight afterwards,
in the midst of their harvest, under the pretence of continuing the
prohibition-act

Petition of the merchants in relation to the embargo

305

ib.

306

The assembly's answer to the governor's message

307

Another message to him concerning the preamble to the 40007. bill on
behalf of the proprietaries

ib.

The governor's answer

308

He sends down another preamble, which is not relished, refuses to

pass the excise-bill, and expunges the clause in the 40,0002. bill for

taxing the proprietary estate

309

His message concerning Indian affairs, and the expence of conduct-

ing them

The business of the assembly at a stand for a few days

317

Their address; and message requesting copies of his proprietary in-

structions

318

Certain of the said instructions communicated

319

A short comment upon them. [For farther remarks see the appendix,

page 401.]

A message to the governor

324

The governor's answer

ib.

A bill prepared for striking the sum of 60,000l. for the king's use, to

be sunk by an excise

325

A conference on the said bill

ib.

The assembly's answer to the governor's objections

ib.

The governor's message, signifying, that he would not give his assent

to it

330

Resolutions of the assembly, (after a protest against the instructions,

and a salvofor their own rights to prepare a new bill

A new bill prepared and passed

A brief apology for the conduct of the assembly on this occasion

Conclusion; with a testimonial of commodore Spry in behalf of the

assembly

335

An appendix, containing sundry original papers relative to the several

points in controversy between the governors and assemblies of Penn-

sylvania, viz.

1. The representation of the assembly to the proprietaries, request-

ing them to bear a proportionable part of Indian expences

2. The proprietaries answer, and assembly's remarks thereon

3. A message from governor Morris, containing his additional ar-

guments to shew the unreasonableness of taxing the proprietary es-

tate for its defence, and in support of the restrictions he was under

in that respect

4. The assembly's answer thereto

5. The governor's reply

6. The assembly's rejoinder

[Note. In the above four messages, great part of the points in dispute be-
tween the proprietaries and people of the province are fully litigated; and
the perusal of them is necessary to those who would have a thorough
knowledge of the controversy.]

7. The speaker of the Pennsylvanian assembly's paper of authorities

relating to the rights of the commons over money-bills; and in support

of the 50,000l. bill passed by the assembly, so far as it relates to the

taxing the proprietary estate within that province

8. Report of a committee of assembly on the proprietary instructions

relating to money-bills, clearly demonstrating, that though the proprie-

taries would at length appear to be willing to have their estates taxed

in common with other estates, yet that were laws passed pursuant to

these instructions much the greatest part of their estate would be ex-

empted, and that the sums necessary to be granted for his majesty's

service in that province could not possibly be raised thereby, &c. &c.

-A paper of importance.