George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 5, 13th edition.

[219] of the scandalous selfishness of the proprietaries,

chap. X.} 1764.

had in May spoken earnestly against the proposal; for he saw that ‘the province must stake on the event liberties that ought to be immortal;’ and desired to see an olive leaf, at least, brought to them before they should quit their ark.¹ On the other side, Joseph Galloway urged with vigor the just complaints against the proprietaries. All royalist at heart, he had even applauded the ministry of Grenville for its disposition to mild and equitable measures, and was tolerant of a military establishment,² of which all the inconveniency to the colonies was to ‘be a proportionable part of the aids to support the troops.’ And Franklin, with undaunted courage supporting popular rights against every danger, was willing to transfer to the king the executive power then held by the proprietaries, believing it could be done without detriment to the established privileges of Pennsylvania.

A petition for the change was adopted by a large majority; but when in summer the policy of Grenville with regard to the American Stamp Act was better understood, a new debate arose, in which Franklin took the lead. It was argued, that, during the war the people of Pennsylvania had granted more than their proportion, and were ever ready to grant sums suitable to their abilities and zeal for the service; that, therefore, the proposition of taxing them in parliament was both cruel and unjust; that by the constitution of the colonies, their business was with the king, and never, in any way, with the chancellor