The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-18
DR.. Franklin's Examination before the
Privy Council.
Extract from the forthcoming third volume Of Dancrt
History Of the United States.

Extract from the forthcoming third volume Of Bancrofts
History Of the United States.
ain this state Of public feeling, franklin,
on the 29lh, assisted by Dunniny and John
Lee, came before ihs Privy Council 10 adj
voca,e tho removal OF Hutchinson and Oil.
yer, in whose behalf appeared Israel Maud.
nit, the old adviser Of The stamp tax; and
Wed'erburne, The Solicitor .Gcneral. II
was day Oi great expectation. Thirty
five lords of The cou.cil wero present; n
larger number than had ever attended a
hearing; aud The room was filled with a
clowded audience, among whom were
Prie-lly aud Edmund Burke. ~
"The question, Us presented by Dun
ming, was alreaJy decided in favor OF the
peli iuners; il was The universal opinion
hat Hutchinson ought to be superceded.-
Wedderbutne changed the issue, as il
Frauklin were on lrlal and in n speech,
which was continued Tissue Of falsehood
aud ribaldry, turned his inveciives against
The pelilioneis and their messenger. OF all
men, franklin was the most mpoIlani in any
attempt al conciliaiion. He was The agent Of
the Two great colonies Of Massachusetts aud
Pennsylvania, and also Of New Jersey aud
Georgia; was The friend OF Edmund Burke,
who was agent for New York. All the
troubles IN The British Colonial policy had
grown out Of the neglect OF his advice, aud
there was no one who could have medialed
like him between the metropolis aud The
Americans. He was now thrice venerable,
from genius, fame in The world Of scieuce,
and age, being already nearly three score
years aud ten. This man Wedderbune,
turning from The real question, employed
all The cunning powers Of dielorlIon AMI
Misrepresentation TO abuse.
''Wih an absurdily Of application which
the Lords OF The Pnvy Council were too
much pref udiced 10 observe, he drew a par.
allel between Boston and Capri, Hutchinson
and Sejanus, The humble petition Of the
Massachusetts assembly aud verbose and
grand epis,e OF The Emperor Tiberius.--
Frauklili, whose character was most benign,
aud who, from obvious mo!ives OF mercy,
had assumed The sole responsibility respect.
lug the letters, he described as a person oi
The most deliberate maleyolence, realizing
in life what poetic fiction had penned for
The breast Of a bloody African. The speech
Gf Hutchinson, challenging discussion oil
The supremacy Of Parliament, had been not
only condemned by public opinion in Eng
land, but dlsapprOved by The Se' relary Of
State; WeddeTburne pronounced IL n mas.
ierly one, which had stunned The facliOn.'
franklin, for twenty year., had exerted his
wonderful powers as the great concilator,
had never once employed The American
press 10 alarm the American people, but
had sought TO prevent The parliamentary
taxation ol America by private aud success.
lul remUnstrance dunn. the lime oi The
Pelhams; by seasonable renIouslrance with
GrenvilIe against The Stamp Act; by hoa.
esl aud true answers 10 the inquiries "i the
House of Commons by the best advice 10
Shelburne. When sjcophanls sought by
hallery TO mislead the minister for America,
he had given correct information aud safe
counsel 10 the ministry OF Grafton, and 70.
peaied il emphalically aud in writing 10 the
ministry of North; but Wedderburne slig.
malized this wise aud hearty lover oi both
countries as a true incendiary.' D. The let.
lers which had been written BY public men
in public offices Oh public aliails 10 one who
formed an integral part Of The body that had
been de- Jared 10 possess absolute power ov.
Or America, and which had been written for
the purpose OF producing lyrannical exer.
else of that absolute power, he called privaie
Hutchinson had solicited the place held by
Frauklin, fom which franklin was 10 be
dismis missed; this fact was suppressed, and
The wanlon ialsehood substituted that Frank.
lin had desired The governors office, and
had basely planned his rval's overthrow
franklin had enclosed The letters officially
10 the Sneaker of The Massachusetts Assem-
bly, without a single injunction OF secrecy
with regard 10 the sender: Wedderbune
maintained that they were sent anonymous.
ly and secretly; and by an argument found
ed on miss,alomen,, bu, which he put for.
ward rs irreflagable, he pretended 10 convict
franklin Of having obtained The letters by
fraudulent and corrup, means, or o. having
stolen them from The person who stole them.
"The Lords of Council, as he spoke,
chsered him on by their laughter; and The
cry of hear him, hear him y burs, rereal.
eiIy from body whch profcssed TO be sill
ting in Judgment as The highest court Of ap-
peal for The colonies, and yet encouraged
The advocate of one Of The parties 10 insult
a public envoy, present only as The person
delivering The petition OF great and loyal
colony. Meantime The gray.haired Frank.
lin, whom Kant, the mobiles, philosopher Of
The age. had called the Promelheus, stood
conspicuously erect confronting his vililier
aud ihe Privy Council, compelled 10 listen
while calumny, in the service Of lawless
force, aimed n Iealh.blow a, his honor, and
his virtues called on God and man 10 see
how unjus'ly he suffered.
."The reply OF Dunning, who was very
i'll, and was ialigued by standing SO long,
could scarcely be- heard aud that OF Lee
produced no impression. There was but
one place IN England where fit repalaiion
could be made and there was but one man
who had the eoquence aud the courage and
The weigh, Of character 10 eifec, The alone.
men, For the present, franklin must re-
~ on the approval Of the monitor within his
own breast. / have never been so sensi.
bile of The power OF good conscience, said
he 10 P,ies,ly; for II had not considered
the thing for which ! have been so much
,hsulied, as one Of The best actions OF my
Iife. and wha, should certainly do again
in The same circumstances, could not
have suppor,ed it, But il was not 10 him.
il was 10 the people Of Massachusetts,,
and 10 New England, and 10 all America,
,ha, The insul, was offered through their
agent. ...-...-,-,
,tFranklin and Wcdderburne parted the
one TO spread The celestial fire OF freedom
among men; TO make his name cherished
household word in every nation OF Europe
and in The beautiful language OF Washing.
ion. 10 be venera,ed for benevolence, TO be
n,inited for talents. 10 be esteemed Tor pat.
rio,i.m, 10 DO beloved for philanthropy T.
ihe other childless, though twice welded,
unbeloyed wranaling with The patron who
had impcached his veraci,y, busy only in
getting everything he could in the way
IL titles and riches, rs The wages OF corup.
IL L.. h.I