The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · Chapter
XV: Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors explained
Franklin recounts his interactions with Governor Morris, who despite a promise to avoid disputes, quickly fell into conflict with the Assembly.
What happens
Franklin recounts his interactions with Governor Morris, who despite a promise to avoid disputes, quickly fell into conflict with the Assembly. Franklin describes the ongoing battle between the governor and the Assembly over proprietary instructions, particularly regarding tax exemptions for the proprietors' estates. He also details how he helped Mr. Quincy of Massachusetts secure financial aid for an attack on Crown Point by devising a method using interest-bearing orders from the Loan Office, bypassing the governor's refusal.
Themes in this chapter
Public Service and Civic Duty
Franklin serves on Assembly committees and devises a creative solution to fund Massachusetts' defense despite the governor's obstruction.
Practical Wisdom and Common Sense
Franklin advises Governor Morris to avoid disputes, and later uses his knowledge of the Assembly's powers to issue interest-bearing orders to bypass the governor's refusal.
Characters to notice
- Benjamin Franklin
Narrator and Assembly member who drafts responses to the governor and devises a method to fund Massachusetts' expedition.
- James Morris
New governor of Pennsylvania who loves disputing and quickly enters into contention with the Assembly over proprietary instructions.
- Andrew Hamilton
Previous governor who resigned due to disputes with proprietary instructions.
- Captain Denny
Governor Morris's successor who later ventures to disobey proprietary instructions.
- Josiah Quincy
Massachusetts envoy sent to Pennsylvania to solicit assistance for the Crown Point expedition; Franklin helps him secure funds.
Key passages
“My dear friend, how can you advise my avoiding disputes? You know I love 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.”
Governor Morris tells Franklin that he enjoys arguing but promises to try to avoid disputes out of respect for Franklin's advice.
Franklin recounts Morris's love of disputation and his initial promise, which he soon broke.
“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 had the right of drawing.”
Franklin proposes that the Assembly issue interest-bearing orders on the Loan Office to fund the provisions, bypassing the governor's veto.
Franklin's practical solution enabled the Massachusetts expedition to receive needed supplies despite the governor's obstruction.