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council were, to declare war and peace, and to conclude treaties with the Indian nations; to regulate trade with, and to make purchases of vacant lands from them, either in the name of the crown, or of the union; to settle new colonies, to make laws for the governing these until they should be erected into separate governments, and to raise troops, build forts, fit out armed vessels and use other means for the general defence: and, to effect these things, a power was given to make laws, laying such duties, imposts, or taxes, as they should find necessary, and as would be least burdensome to the people. All laws were to be sent to England for the king's approbation; and unless disapproved of within three years, were to remain in force. All officers in the land or sea service were to be nominated by the president-general, and approved of by the general council; civil officers were to be nominated by the council, and approved by the president. Such are the outlines of the plan proposed for the consideration of the congress, by Dr. Franklin. After sev eral day's discussion, it was unanimously agreed to by the commissioners, a copy transmitted to each assembly, and one to the king's council. The fate of it was singular. It was disapproved of by the ministry of Great Britain, because it gave too much power to the representatives of the people; and it was rejected by every assembly, as giving to the president-general, the representative of the crown, an influence greater than appeared to them proper, in a plan of government intended for freemen.Perhaps their rejection, on both sides, is the strongest proof that could be adduced of the excellence of it, as suited to the situation of America and Great Britain at that time. It appears to have steered exactly in the middle, between the opposite interests of both.

the colonies to defend themselves, it would have re moved the pretext upon which the stampt act, tea act, and other acts of the British parliament, wer passed; which excited a spirit of opposition, and laid the foundation for the separation of the tw countries. But on the other hand, it must be ad mitted, that the restriction laid by Great Britai upon our commerce, obliging us to sell our produc to her citizens only, and to take from them variou articles, of which, as our manufactures were dis couraged, we stood in need, at a price greate than that for which they could have been obtaine from other nations, must inevitably produce dissa tisfaction, even though no duties were imposed b the parliament; a circumstance which might sti have taken place. Besides, as the president-gene ral was to be appointed by the crown, he must, o necessity, be devoted to its views, and would, there fore, refuse his assent to any laws, however saluta ry to the community, which had the most remot tendency to injure the interests of his sovereign.Even should they receive his assent, the approba tion of the king was to be necessary; who woul indubitably, in every instance, prefer the advantag of his home dominions to that of his colonies.Hence would ensue perpetual disagreements be tween the council and the president-general, an thus, between the people of America and the crow of Great Britain: While the colonies continue weak, they would be obliged to submit, and as soo as they acquired strength they would become mor urgent in their demauds, until at length they woul

shake off the yoke, and declare themselves inde pendent.

Whilst the French were in possession of Canada, their trade with the natives extended very fareven to the back of the British settlements. They were disposed, from time to time, to establish posts within the territory, which the British claimed as their own. Independent of the injury to the trade, which was considerable, the colonies suffered this further inconvenience, that the Indians were fre quently instigated to commit depredations on their frontiers. In the year 1753, encroachments were made upon the boundaries of Virginia. Ramon-strances had no effect. In the ensuing year, a bo dy of men was sent out under the command of Mr. Washington, who, though a very young man, had, by his conduct in the preceding year, shewn himself worthy of such an important trust. Whilst marching to take possession of the post at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela, he was informed that the French had already erected a fort there. A detachment of their men marched against him. He fortified himself as strongly as time and circumstances would admit. A superiority of numbers soon obliged him to surrender Fort Necessity. He obtained honorable terms for himself and men, and returned to Virginia. The government of G. Britain now thought it necessary to interfere. the year 1755, General Braddock, with some regiments of regular troops, and provincial levies, was sent to dispossess the French of the posts upon which they had seized. After the men were all ready, a difficulty occurred, which had nearly prevented the expedition. This was the want of waggons. Franklin now stepped forward, and with the assistance of his son, in a little time procured a hundred and fifty.

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Braddock unfortunately fell into an ambuscade, and perished, with a number of his men. Washington, who had accompanied him as an aid-de-camp, and had warned him, in vain, of his danger, now displayed great military talents in effecting a retreat of the remains of the army, and in forming a junction with the rear, under colonel Dunbar, upon whom the chief command now devolved. With some difficulty they brought their little body to a place of safety; but they found it necessary to destroy their waggons and baggage, to prevent their falling. into the hands of the enemy. For the waggons which he had furnished, Franklin had given bonds to a large amount. The owners declared their intentions of obliging him to make a restitution of their property. Had they put their threats in execution, ruin must inevitably have been the consequence. Gov. ernor Shirley, finding that he had incurred these debts for the service of government, made arrangements to have them discharged, and released Franklin from his disagreeable situation,

The alarm spread through the colonies, after the defeat of Braddock, was very great. Preparations to arm were every where made. In Pennsylvania, the prevalence of the quaker interest prevented the adoption of any system of defence, which would compel the citizens to bear arms. Franklin introduced into the assembly a bill for organizing a militia, by which every man was allowed to take arms or not, as to him should appear fit. The quakers, being thus left at liberty, suffered the bill to pass; for although their principles would not suffer them to fight, they had no objection to their neighbors fighting for them. In consequence of this act a ver respectable militia was formed. The sense of impending danger infused a military spirit in all,

north-western frontier being invaded by the , it became necessary to adopt measures for fence. Franklin was directed by the gov o take charge of this business. A power of men, and of appointing officers to command was vested in him. He soon levied a body ps, with which he repaired to the place at their presence was necessary. Here he built

and placed the garrison in such a posture of e as would enable them to withstand the into which the inhabitants had previously been d. He remained here for some time, in ore more completely to discharge the trust itted to him. Some business of importance red his presence necessary in the assembly, returned to Philadelphia.

: defence of her colonies was a great expence at Britain. The most effectual mode of lesthis was, to put arms in the hands of the innts, and to teach them their use. But Engished not that the Americans should become nted with their own strength. She was appree, that, as soon as this period arrived, they no longer submit to that monopoly of their which to them was highly injurious, but exy advantageous to the mother country. In rison with the profits of this, the expence of ining armies and fleets to defend them was

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