the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第37章
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me at the next election； and he； therefore； in good will； advis'd me to
resign； as more consistent with my honour than being turn'd out。 My
answer to him was； that I had read or heard of some public man who made
it a rule never to ask for an office； and never to refuse one when offer'd to
him。 〃I approve；〃 says I； 〃of his rule； and will practice it with a small
addition； I shall never ask； never refuse； nor ever resign an office。 If they
will have my office of clerk to dispose of to another； they shall take it from
me。 I will not； by giving it up； lose my right of some time or other making
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
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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 members。 They told me there were eight of them assembled at
a tavern just by； that they were determin'd to come and vote with us if
there should be occasion； which they hop'd would not be the case； and
desir'd we would not call for their assistance if we could do without it； as
their voting for such a measure might embroil them with their elders and
friends。 Being thus secure of a majority； I went up； and after a little
seeming hesitation； agreed to a delay of another hour。 This Mr。 Morris
allow'd to be extreamly fair。 Not one of his opposing friends appear'd； at
which he express'd great surprize； and； at the expiration of the hour； we
carry'd the resolution eight to one； and as； of the twenty…two Quakers；
eight were ready to vote with us； and thirteen； by their absence； manifested
that they were not inclin'd to oppose the measure； I afterward estimated
the proportion of Quakers sincerely against defense as one to twenty…one
only； for these were all regular members of that society； and in good
reputation among them； and had due notice of what was propos'd at that
meeting。
The honorable and learned Mr。 Logan； who had always been of that
sect； was one who wrote an address to them； declaring his approbation of
defensive war； and supporting his opinion by many strong arguments。 He
put into my hands sixty pounds to be laid out in lottery tickets for the
battery； with directions to apply what prizes might be drawn wholly to that
service。 He told me the following anecdote of his old master； William
Penn； respecting defense。 He came over from England； when a young man；
with that proprietary； and as his secretary。 It was war…time； and their ship
was chas'd by an armed vessel； suppos'd to be an enemy。 Their captain
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prepar'd for defense； but told William Penn and his company of Quakers；
that he did not expect their assistance； and they might retire into the cabin；
which they did； except James Logan； who chose to stay upon deck； and
was quarter'd to a gun。 The suppos'd enemy prov'd a friend； so there was
no fighting； but when the secretary went down to communicate the
intelligence； William Penn rebuk'd him severely for staying upon deck；
and undertaking to assist in defending the vessel； contrary to the principles
of Friends； especially as it had not been required by the captain。 This
reproof； being before all the company； piqu'd the secretary； who answer'd；
〃I being thy servant； why did thee not order me to come down？ But thee
was willing enough that I should stay and help to fight the ship when thee
thought there was danger。〃
My being many years in the Assembly； the majority of which were
constantly Quakers； gave me frequent opportunities of seeing the
embarrassment given them by their principle against war； whenever
application was made to them； by order of the crown； to grant aids for
military purposes。 They were unwilling to offend government； on the one
hand； by a direct refusal； and their friends； the body of the Quakers； on the
other； by a compliance contrary to their principles； hence a variety of
evasions to avoid complying； and modes of disguising the compliance
when it became unavoidable。 The common mode at last was； to grant
money under the phrase of its being 〃for the king's use；〃 and never to
inquire how it was applied。
But； if the demand was not directly from the crown； that phrase was
found not so proper； and some other was to be invented。 As； when powder
was wanting （I think it was for the garrison at Louisburg）； and the
government of New England solicited a grant of some from Pennsilvania；
which was much urg'd on the House by Governor Thomas；
