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Show [At D.T.] How: afCommorzr 2'22 I766. 297 ego Examination af'Dr. Franklin égfore tbs Q Is this all you mean; a letter from the fe- cretary of Rare P A. I mean the ufual way of requifition; in a circular letter from the fecretary of Rate, by his Majeity's command; reciting the occaiion, and recommending it to the colonies to grant fuch aids as became their loyalty, and were fuitable to their abilities. 21., Did the {ecretary of [fate ever write for money for the crown ? A. The requifitions have been to raife, clothe and pay men, which cannot be done without money. ,, Q, Would they grant money alone, if called on? A. In my opinion they would, money as well as men ; when they have money, or can make it. Q; If the parliament {hould repeal the Stamp- Aé'c, will the afiembly of Penfylvania refcind their refolutions P A. I think not. 2; Before there was any thought of the StampAét, did they with for a reprefentation in parlia- ment ? A. No. ‘on the inhabitants, unlefs it be with the content of the afletnl)l)r, or by aé‘t of parliament. 52. How then could the aliEmbly of Penfylvania aiTert, that laying a tax on them by the Stamp-Act was an infringement of their rights 3 A. They underfland it thus : By the fame charter, and otherwife, they are intitled to all the privileges and liberties of Engliflimen : they find in the great charters, and the petition and declaration ofrights, that one of the privileges ofEnglifh {ub- jeé'ts is, that they are not to be taxed but by their common amfim‘; they have therefore relied upon it, from the firit fettlement of the province, that the parliament never would, not could, by colour of that claufe in the charter, aiTume a right of tax- ing them, till it had qualified itfelf to exercife fuch right; by admitting reprefentatives from the people to be taxed, who ought to make a part of that common confent. Q; Are there any words in the charter that juftify that confiruétion ? A. The common rights of Englifhmen, as declared by Magna Charta, and the petition of right; all juftify it. .52, Does the dii'tiné‘tion between internal and external taxes exiit in the words of the charter P A. No, I believe not. Q, Then may they not, by the fame interpre- .91., Don't you know that there is, in the Pen]jll‘vmzz'a Charter, an exprefs refervation of the right of parliament to lay taxes there ? tation, object to the parliament's right of external A. Iknow there is a claufe in the charter, by ments have been lately uled here to thew them which the King grants that he will levy no taxes on taxation P A. They never [Jaw hitherto. (Lq Many argu- that |
