the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第32章
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execution new projects。 The best public measures are therefore seldom
adopted from previous wisdom； but forc'd by the occasion。
The Governor of Pennsylvania； in sending it down to the Assembly；
express'd his approbation of the plan； 〃as appearing to him to be drawn up
with great clearness and strength of judgment； and therefore recommended
it as well worthy of their closest and most serious attention。〃 The House；
however； by the management of a certain member； took it up when I
happen'd to be absent； which I thought not very fair； and reprobated it
without paying any attention to it at all； to my no small mortification。
In my journey to Boston this year； I met at New York with our new
governor； Mr。 Morris； just arriv'd there from England； with whom I had
been before intimately acquainted。 He brought a commission to supersede
Mr。 Hamilton； who； tir'd with the disputes his proprietary instructions
subjected him to； had resign'd。 Mr。 Morris ask'd me if I thought he must
expect as uncomfortable an administration。 I said； 〃No； you may； on the
contrary； have a very comfortable one； if you will only take care not to
enter into any dispute with the Assembly。〃 〃My dear friend；〃 says he；
pleasantly； 〃how can you advise my avoiding disputes？ You know I love
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disputing； it is one of my greatest pleasures； however； to show the regard I
have for your counsel； I promise you I will； if possible； avoid them。〃 He
had some reason for loving to dispute； being eloquent； an acute sophister；
and； therefore； generally successful in argumentative conversation。 He had
been brought up to it from a boy； his father； as I have heard； accustoming
his children to dispute with one another for his diversion； while sitting at
table after dinner； but I think the practice was not wise； for； in the course
of my observation； these disputing； contradicting； and confuting people are
generally unfortunate in their affairs。 They get victory sometimes； but they
never get good will； which would be of more use to them。 We parted； he
going to Philadelphia； and I to Boston。
In returning； I met at New York with the votes of the Assembly； by
which it appear'd that； notwithstanding his promise to me； he and the
House were already in high contention； and it was a continual battle
between them as long as he retain'd the government。 I had my share of it；
for； as soon as I got back to my seat in the Assembly； I was put on every
committee for answering his speeches and messages； and by the
committees always desired to make the drafts。 Our answers； as well as his
messages； were often tart； and sometimes indecently abusive； and； as he
knew I wrote for the Assembly； one might have imagined that； when we
met； we could hardly avoid cutting throats； but he was so good…natur'd a
man that no personal difference between him and me was occasion'd by
the contest； and we often din'd together。
One afternoon； in the height of this public quarrel； we met in the street。
〃Franklin；〃 says he； 〃you must go home with me and spend the evening； I
am to have some company that you will like；〃 and； taking me by the arm；
he led me to his house。 In gay conversation over our wine； after supper； he
told us； jokingly； that he much admir'd the idea of Sancho Panza； who；
when it was proposed to give him a government； requested it might be a
government of blacks； as then； if he could not agree with his people； he
might sell them。 One of his friends； who sat next to me； says； 〃Franklin；
why do you continue to side with these damn'd Quakers？ Had not you
better sell them？ The proprietor would give you a good price。〃 〃The
governor；〃 says I； 〃has not yet blacked them enough。〃 He； indeed； had
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labored hard to blacken the Assembly in all his messages； but they wip'd
off his coloring as fast as he laid it on； and plac'd it； in return； thick upon
his own face； so that； finding he was likely to be negrofied himself； he； as
well as Mr。 Hamilton； grew tir'd of the contest； and quitted the
government。
These public quarrels were all at bottom owing to the
proprietaries； our hereditary governors； who； when any expense was to be
incurred for the defense of their province； with incredible meanness
instructed their deputies to pass no act for levying the necessary taxes；
unless their vast estates were in the same act expressly excused； and they
had even taken bonds of these deputies to observe such instructions。 The
Assemblies for three years held out against this injustice； tho' constrained
to bend at last。 At length Captain Denny； who was Governor Morris's
successor； ventured to disobey those instructions； how that was brought
about I shall show hereafter。
My acts in Morris's time； military； etc。＇Marg。 note。＇
But I am got forward too fast with my story： there are still some
transactions to be mention'd that happened during the administration of
Governor Morris。
War being in a manner commenced with France； the government of
Massachusetts Bay projected an attack upon Crown Point； and sent Mr。
Quincy to Pennsylvania； and Mr。 Pownall； afterward Governor Pownall； to
New York； to solicit assistance。 As I was in the Assembly； knew its temper；
and was Mr。 Quincy's countryman； he appli'd to me for my influence and
assistance。 I dictated his address to them； which was well receiv'd。 They
voted an aid of ten thousand pounds； to be laid out in provisions。 But the
governor refusing his assent to their bill （which included this with other
sums granted for the use of the crown）； unless a clause were inserted
exempting the proprietary estate from bearing any part of the tax that
would be necessary； the Assembly； tho' very desirous of making their grant
to New England effectual； were at a loss how to accomplish it。 Mr。 Quincy
labored hard with the governor to obtain his assent； but he was obstinate。
I then suggested a method of doing the business without the governor；
by orders on the trustees of the Loan Office； which； by law； the Assembly
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had the right of drawing。 There was； indeed； little or no money at that time
in the office； and therefore I propos'd that the orders should be payable in
a year； and to bear an interest of five per cent。 With these orders I suppos'd
the provisions might easily be purchas'd。 The Assembly； with very little
hesitation； adopted the proposal。 The orders were immediately printed； and
I was one of the committee directed to sign and dispose of them。 The fund
for paying them was the interest of all the paper currency then extant in
the province upon loan； together with the revenue arising from the excise；
which being known to be more than sufficient； they obtain'd instant credit；
and were not only receiv'd in payment for the provisions； but many
money'd people； who had cash lying by them； vested it in those orders；
which they found advantageous； as they bore interest while upon hand；
and might on any occasion be used as money； so that they were eagerly all
bought up； and in a few weeks none of them were to be seen。 Thus this
important affair was by my means compleated。 My Quincy return'd thanks
to the Assembly in a handsome memorial； went home highly pleas'd with
the success of his embassy； and ever after bore for me the most cordial and
affectionate friendship。
The British government； not chusing to permit the union of the
colonies as propos'd at Albany； and to trust that union with their defense；
lest they should thereby grow too military； and feel their own strength；
suspicions and jealousies at this time being entertain'd of them； sent over
General Braddock with two regiments of regular English troops for that
purpose。 He landed at Alexandria； in Virginia； and thence march'd to
Frederictown； in Maryland； where he halted for carriages。 Our Assembly
apprehending； from some information； that he had conceived violent
prejudices against them； as averse to the service； wish'd me to wait upon
him； not as from them； but as postmaster…general； under the guise of
proposing to settle with him the mode of conducting with most celerity
and certainty the despatches between him and the governors of the several
provinces； with whom he must necessarily have continual correspondence；
and of which they propos'd to pay the expense。 My son accompanied me
on this journey。
We found the general at Frederictown； waiting impatiently for the
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return of those he had sent thro' the back parts of Maryland and Virginia to
collect waggons。 I stayed with him several days； din'd with him daily； and
had full opportunity of removing all his prejudices； by the information of
what the Assembly had before his arrival actually done； and were still
willing to do； to facilitate his operations。 When I was about to depart； the
returns of waggons to be obtained were brought in； by which it appear'd
that they amounted only to twenty…five； and not all of those were in
serviceable condition。 The general and all the officers were surpris'd；
declar'd the expedition was then at an end； being impossible； and
exclaim'd against the ministers for ignorantly landing them in a country
destitute of the means of conveying their stores； baggage； etc。； not less
than one hundred and fifty waggons being necessary。
I happened
