CONTENTS

OF

VOLUME THIRD.

ESSAYS AND TRACTS, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL,

BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Plain Truth; or Serious Considerations on the Present

State of the City of Philadelphia and Province of

Pennsylvania

Papers relating to a Plan of Union of the Colonies, adopt-

ed by Commissioners assembled at Albany in July,

1754.

Short Hints towards a Scheme for uniting the North-

ern Colonies

Letter from James Alexander to Cadwallader Colden

respecting the above Hints

Remarks on the Hints for a Scheme of Union, by

Cadwallader Colden

·

•

Reasons and Motives on which the Plan of Union

was formed.

Plan of Union adopted by the Convention at Albany;

with the Reasons and Motives for each Article

of the Plan

Three Letters to Governor Shirley

Letter I. Concerning the Voice of the People in

Choosing the Rulers by whom Taxes are Im-

posed

Letter II. On the Imposition of Direct Taxes upon

•

the Colonies without their Consent

Letter III. On the Subject of uniting the Colonies

more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing

them Representatives in Parliament

Plan for Settling two Western Colonies in North America,

with Reasons for the Plan

An Act for the better Ordering and Regulating such as are

willing and desirous to be united for Military Pur-

poses in Pennsylvania

A Dialogue between X, Y, & Z, concerning the present

State of Affairs in Pennsylvania

Report of the Committee of Aggrievances of the Assem-

bly of Pennsylvania

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW of the Constitution and Govern-

ment of Pennsylvania, from its Origin; so far as

regards the several Points of Controversy, which

have from time to time arisen between the several

Governors of Pennsylvania and their several As-

semblies

Dedication

Introduction

CHAPTER I.

Abstract of the Charter granted to William Penn. Conditions to the

first Settlers of Pennsylvania. Penn's first Frame of Government.

His Reservation of Quit-Rents. His second Frame of Govern-

ment. Pennsylvania and the Territory of the Three Lower Coun-

ties united. Remonstrance of a subsequent Assembly against the

Union. Motives of the Planters for accepting the second Frame

of Government. Mr. Penn's Return to England, and Appointment

of five Commissioners to administer the Government. Disorders

which ensued during his Absence. Captain Blackwell's Govern-

ment.

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. 97

CHAPTER II.

The Government assumed into the Hands of the Crown in 1693, and

administered by Colonel Fletcher, Governor of New York. He

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declares the Constitution of Penn's Government, and that of their

Majesties, to be directly opposite each to the other. He menaces

the Assembly with an Annexation of their Province to that of New

York. Protestation against passing Bills. Remonstrance to Penn.

The Governor admits the Principles of the Quakers, not to carry

Arms or levy Money to make War. The Assembly insist on their

Right to appropriate as well as to raise Money. The Government

of William Markham. A new Act of Settlement or Frame of

Government. The Government resumed by Penn. A new Model

of Elections. 'The Assembly formed thereon dissolved. Another

Assembly called upon another Model. Aids granted to the Pro-

prietary Governor in Exchange for a Confirmation of Property.

Penn's Speech to a new Assembly. Three of the Requisitions

they made to him, with his Answers and their Replies. A Breach

between the Province and the Territory. The last Charter of

Privileges. It is unanimously rejected by the Freemen of the

Territory. Penn's Departure for England. Andrew Hamilton,

Deputy-Governor, in vain endeavours to re-unite the Territory with

the Province.

CHAPTER III.

John Evans succeeds Hamilton. Controversy between him and the

Assembly. Nine several Heads of Complaint entered in the Min-

utes of the Assembly, as the Ground of a Representation to the

Proprietary. The Remainder of that Representation. A Copy of

it demanded by the Governor and refused by the Assembly. The

Governor censures the Proprietary's Charter of Property. The

Draftsman's Defence of it. The Governor declares the Proprieta-

ry's high Resentment of the Assembly's Representation. The As-

sembly's Reply. The Governor refers to the Charter of Privileges

as the only Rule of Government. The Assembly complain of

Infractions made in it. Their Representation to the Proprietary

against the Governor. Logan impeached by the Assembly, and

skreened by the Governor. A unanimous Vote of Thanks to the

Proprietary for recalling Evans. General View of Gookin's Gov-

ernment. Assembly's Character of Themselves.

CHAPTER IV.

A Proprietary Governor a wretched Thing. Artful Conduct of Gover-

nor Keith. Penn's Death. The Province left in the Hands of

Trustees. Logan, one of those Trustees, obtains a Majority in the

Council against the Governor. Logan makes a Voyage to Eng-

land, and returns with Private Instructions to Keith. A Breach

between the Governor and the Speaker. The Province in a State

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160

of Tranquillity for nine Years under his Administration. Pennsyl-

vania easy to be governed, if well governed. Private Instructions

from the Proprietary in two several Instances declared void. The

Proprietaries the sole Purchasers of Indian Lands. The People at

the sole Expense of Indian Affairs. Paper Money first issued in

Pennsylvania. Precautions taken to secure it from Depreciation.

Room left in the Constitution of the Province for Self-defence, by

Force of Arms, though the Use of Arms was not consistent with

the Principles of Quakers.

CHAPTER V.

The Assembly grants Money in aid of the Expedition against Car-

thagena. The Governor enlists indented Servants upon that Occa-

sion; and the Assembly apply the Money they had given to indem-

nify the Masters. They give Money towards the Public Service.

The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania oppose the Bill brought into

Parliament for restraining the Northern Colonies from issuing

Paper Bills of Credit. The Assembly call upon the Proprietaries

to contribute to the Expense of Indian Affairs, which they decline.

A Bill for increasing the Provincial Paper Currency. Rejected by

the Governor; and petitioned for by the Inhabitants. The An-

swer of the Proprietaries to the Representation of the Assem-

bly concerning the Expense of Indian Affairs. The Assembly's

Message sent to the Governor, together with the Currency Bill he

had before rejected. Another Message to him concerning Indian

Affairs. Governor's Message, importing his Assent to the Curren-

cy Bill, with a suspending Clause. Resolution of the Assembly

not to accept this Clause, with their Reasons. Their Reply to the

Proprietary's Answer to the Representation on Indian Expenses. 209

CHAPTER VI.

187

Unanimous Resolution of the Assembly concerning the Necessity of

a Reemission of their Paper Currency. Lord Holdernesse's Letter

and other Papers. The Governor revives the old Controversy, con-

cerning the Paper-Money Instruction, and demands Supplies to

arm the Province. The Assembly demur, and desire a short Ad-

journment. The Governor persists in his former Declaration. The

Assembly adjourn and are again assembled by the Governor. De-

bates in the Assembly, and a new Adjournment. Another Session,

and a Message from the Governor, accompanied with Intelligence,

that the French were before the Fort built by the Virginians on

the Ohio. A joint Bill for granting Aid. Amendments proposed

by the Governor. Unanimously rejected by the Assembly. The

Governor's Reply. A Reflection thereon. Resolutions of the

Assembly, and Message to the Governor before their Adjournment.

They are re-convened by special Summons. The Proceedings of

the Commissioners at Albany laid before them. They prepare and

present a Bill for striking Bills of Credit, which the Governor

cvades for want of sufficient Powers to pass it.

CHAPTER VII.

Governor Morris's Arrival at Philadelphia, and first Speech to a new

Assembly. The Assembly's Answer and Adjournment. Being as-

sembled again, the Governor in his Speech requires them to raise

and keep up a considerable Body of Troops. They present a Bill

for raising Forty Thousand Pounds on the former Plan. The old

Instruction, and an Opinion of the Attorney-General's pleaded by

the Governor in Bar of his Assent. A Message from the Assembly,

fully demonstrating that Pennsylvania was not comprehended in

the Instruction insisted upon; also desiring a Sight of the Instruc-

tions he himself had received from his Principals. A second Mes-

sage, in which they call upon the Governor to give his Assent to

the Bill. The Governor's Reply, declining the Bill as before, and

evading the Communication of his Instructions. The Assembly's

Rejoinder, justifying the Requisition they had made of his Instruc-

tions. The Governor questions their Right to have these Instruc-

tions laid before them. The unanimous Resolutions of the Assem-

bly concerning the Proprietary Instructions, in which they declare

it as their Opinion, that the said Instructions were the principal if

not the sole Obstruction to their Bill. A Brief of the Governor's

Surrejoinder. Some general Remarks.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Assembly make their Appeal to the Crown. The Governor's

expostulatory Message thereon. He demands a Copy of their

Minutes; they order him one when the printed Copies were finish-

ed, and adjourn. Upon Braddock's Arrival in Virginia, they are re-

assembled by special Summons; the Demands made by Message

on that Occasion. Twenty-five Thousand Pounds granted to the

King's Use, to be raised by an Emission of Paper Bills. Refused

by the Governor, on the old Pretence of a contrary Instruction. A

Provision demanded for the Expense of an Indian Treaty. A Me-

morial to the Assembly from Mr. Quincy, a Commissioner from the

Government of Massachusetts Bay. The Assembly resolves to

raise the said Sum on the Credit of the Province. Another Paper

of Acknowledgment from the said Mr. Quincy. The Governor

revives the former Controversy. The Assembly's spirited Answer

to his Message. A Remark thereon.

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