, 1923-01-25
FrankIin-av Versatile Man

sort OF confederation with the col
onies SO that they could plan pro-
lection as a whole against the enemy.
History tells US that Franklin's
Pennsylvania Gazette was the only
paper in the country that had the
rerve to come right out in the open
and fearlessly advocate the idea.
Commissioners were present from
all the New England colonies, New
York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Apparently the other colonies weak
ened.
When Compromise Was Necessary
The plan was to form a union I'M
der a single central government, I'M
der which each colony might pre-
serve it's local Independence. The
legislative assembly of each colony
was to choose, every three years,
representative to attend a federal
grand council, which Was to meet an
nually at Philadelphia. The grand
council was to choose Its own
speaker, and could neither be dis
solved nor prorogued except by lis
own consent. or by especial order of
the crown. This council was to
make treaties with II Indians, ard
regulate trade with them, AMI to
have sole power OF legislation on all
lt'ullClS INV hih5 ~ $50 -
whole. To these ends it could levy
taxes, enlist soldiers. build forts and
nominate civil offit ers. Its laws
were to be submitted to the king for
approval, and the royal veto, In ord
err to be effecti"e, must be exercised
within three years Many other in
teresting details Wern contained II
,he document. During the course Of
debate Franklin wa sobliged to make
many compromises and changes from
what he originally rad in mind In
commenting on the wOrk of the Con-
gress, he said: 1bis plan is not al
together to my mind: but 1t is as l
could get it."
The submission Of the "plal' TO
the colonies, and to England. proved
that Franklin was in advance Of the
times. The colonies thought Il took
away too much of th.ir liberty. while
England Thought it gave them too
much. A Town Meeting In Boston
denounced it as srb,n,sive of liberty.
1t was rejected by the Pennsylvania
assembly without a wcrd of discus
sion. Not one OF the assemblies
voted to adopt 1t. 1t irritated and
alarmed the ministers Of the crown
No one seemed able to grasp the
foresightedness of Franklin. Its
adoption at that time undoubtedly
would have prevented many diff
culties.
In 1857 Franklin was sent to Eng
land by Pennsylvania to insist that
they be given the right to tax pro-
prietary estates, and to adjust other
vexatious problems. Franklin re-
manned there five years and, in pres
ent-day %parlance. brought home the
hoNnn In hnno a onp,oinfaN with /
all the eminent people OF Great
Britain. and received the degree of
LII. d. from Oxford and Edinburgh
The proposed stamp act again
made it necessary for Franklin to go
to England to represent Pennsyl-|
vania. Shortly thereafter Massa-
chusetts. New Jersey and Georgia
employed him as their agent. All
England admitted the rare diplo-l
matte ability of Franklin. George
III. is said to have warned the min
listers against that crafty American
who is more than a match for us
ALL" Franklin did not return home
until May. 1775. He remained in
England several years working day
after day to prevail upon the au-
thorities to see the light and avert
war with the colonies. The day aft
tT HIS arrival HOmt tut pennsylvania /
assembly unanimously elected him
was about to assemble. In July
Congress decided to send a final
plea to England. which was written
by Franklin. 1t was read aloud to
h House OF Commons. The clos
Ing words OF the letter were: "If you
flatter yourselves with beating US
into submission. you know neither
the people nor the country. The Con-
gress will await the result OF their
last petition"
When 1t came time to prepare and
sign the Declaration OF Independ-
ence. Benjamin Franklin occupied a /
seat In the front row
The beginning of the Revolution
made II necessary for this country to
seek foreign alliances. No man was
quite so well fitted for such a mis-
sion ms Franklin. Years before while
conducting his paper he had mastered
French. Italian, Spanish. and OBJ
tanned some knowledge of Latin. His
Is years in Europe as an ~ambassad-
or had made II possible for him TO
learn all the ropes OF European pol
tiles.
Nc n can disprove the fact that
Franklin's financial and diplomatic
accomplishments in France made 10
possible for George Washington and
his brave soldiers to win the war.
His first accomplishment was to per-
suade the French government TO
furnish two million livres a year. In
quarterly installments. to aid tho
American cause Ammunition and
arms were sent from that country.
Americans were permitted to tit out
vs Is go. L..