![]() ![]() Our Message to this Effect was sent up on the second Day after our entring on Business. For our better Information in this Matter, and without intending the least Offence to the Governor, we requested he would be pleased to lay before us the last Treaty, held with them in September. And as the Governor was pleased to tell us, “the French had gained the Delawares and Shawanese to their Interest, under the ensnaring Pretence of Restoring them to their Country ” it seemed natural and proper for us to enquire, on this Occasion, whether the Indians complained of any Injury from this Province, either in regard to their Lands, or on any other Account and to express our Readiness to do them Justice (in case such Complaints were well founded) before Hostilities were returned, and the Mischief grew more extensive. In the mean time, as this Colony had been founded on Maxims of Peace, and had hitherto maintained an uninterrupted Friendship with the Natives, by a strict Observation of Treaties, conferring Benefits on them from Time to Time, as well as doing them Justice on all Occasions, it could not but surprize us to hear, that our old Friends were on a sudden become our cruel Enemies. And being deeply affected with the present distressful Circumstances of the Frontier Counties, determined to do, for the publick Safety and Welfare, every Thing that could reasonably be expected from them, either as dutiful Subjects to the Crown, or Lovers of their Country.Īccordingly, on reading the Governor’s Message of the Third Instant, with the Papers accompanying the same, a Bill was immediately proposed for raising a large Sum for the King’s Service, and to strike the same in Paper Bills, and provide a Fund for sinking the Whole within five Years, as recommended by the Governor. The House came together at this Time with the sincerest Dispositions to avoid, if possible, all Disputes with the Governor on any Account whatever. A committee which included Franklin was appointed to draft a reply, printed here. He sent a message the same day ridiculing the Assembly for its foolish attention to grievances “of the Indians now engaged in laying waste the Country, and butchering the Inhabitants,” reproved it for passing a tax bill it knew he could not accept, and informed it that he and a quorum of his Council would leave immediately for the frontier since obviously nothing was to be gained from staying in town to deal with such a body as the Assembly. 6 The pacific message about the Indians plus the renewed effort to tax the proprietary lands sent Morris into a rage. It was brought in the next day and was passed on November 8. Franklin and five others were appointed to prepare a bill pursuant to the resolve. The same day the Assembly resolved that £60,000 be granted for the King’s use to be struck in paper bills of credit backed by a tax on all estates in the province. Assuming that ill-treatment of those Indians by Pennsylvania must be the reason they now ravaged the frontier, Quaker leaders in the Assembly secured approval of a message, November 5, asking the governor to seek the causes of the disaffection and do whatever was necessary to regain the friendship of the Indians. In the same message Morris reported that the Delawares and Shawnees had defected to the French. He urged them to pass a militia law and provide funds for defense, although he cautioned them to “not waste your Time in offering me such Bills, as you must know … it is not in my Power to consent to.” 5 Upon learning of Indian attacks at Penn’s Creek and other places in the Susquehanna Valley, Governor Morris summoned the Assembly for Nov.
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