|
"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 98
of 154
reprisals on my adversaries." I heard, however, no more of this; I was chosen
again unanimously as usual at the next election. Possibly, as they dislik'd my
late intimacy with the members of council, who had join'd the governors in all
the disputes about military preparations, with which the House had long been
harass'd, they might have been pleas'd if I would voluntarily have left them;
but they did not care to displace me on account merely of my zeal for the
association, and they could not well give another reason.
Indeed I had some cause to believe that the defense of the country was not
disagreeable to any of them, provided they were not requir'd to assist in it.
And I found that a much greater number of them than I could have imagined, tho'
against offensive war, were clearly for the defensive. Many pamphlets pro and
con were publish'd on the subject, and some by good Quakers, in favour of
defense, which I believe convinc'd most of their younger people.
A transaction in our fire company gave me some insight into their prevailing
sentiments. It had been propos'd that we should encourage the scheme for
building a battery by laying out the present stock, then about sixty pounds, in
tickets of the lottery. By our rules, no money could be dispos'd of till the
next meeting after the proposal. The company consisted of thirty members, of
which twenty-two were Quakers, and eight only of other persuasions. We eight
punctually attended the meeting; but, tho' we thought that some of the Quakers
would join us, we were by no means sure of a majority. Only one Quaker, Mr.
James Morris, appear'd to oppose the measure. He expressed much sorrow that it
had ever been propos'd, as he said Friends were all against it, and it would
create such discord as might break up the company. We told him that we saw no
reason for that; we were the minority, and if Friends were against the measure,
and outvoted us, we must and should, agreeably to the usage of all societies,
submit. When the hour for business arriv'd it was mov'd to put the vote; he
allow'd we might then do it by the rules, but, as he could assure us that a
number of members intended to be present for the purpose of opposing it, it
would be but candid to allow a little time for their appearing.
While we were disputing this, a waiter came to tell me two gentlemen below
desir'd to speak with me. I went down, and found they were two of our Quaker
|