160 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Engrlish Colanlee, to whom It is more neoessar>' and must be more advan- 

 tageous." 



Reverses In contests with the French at length hastened forward the pro- 

 ject ; and at Albany, to use the words of Bancroft, " on the 19th January, 

 1794, assembled the memorable Congress of Commissioners from every Colony 

 north of the Potomac. 



" America had never seen an assembly so venerable for the States that 

 were represented, or for the great and able men who composed it. Every 

 voice declared a Union of all the Colonies to be absolutely necessary " ; and 

 It adds interest to this transaction that at its commencement the representa- 

 tives of the Six Nations were present. 



Franklin's grojeot was the basis, and aiter great debate and deliberation 

 was modified and adopted. Philadelphia was deemed conveniently situated 

 for the site of the Federal Government, because it could be reached from the 

 most distant parts in fifteen to twenty days. 



The constitution was a compromise between the prerogative and popular 

 power. The King was to name and support a Governor-General, who should 

 have a negative in all laws ; the people of the Colonies, through their legisla- 

 tures were to elect triennially a grand Council, which alone could originate 

 bills. Each Colony was to send a number of members, in proportion to its 

 contributions, yet not less than two nor more than seven. 



The Governor-General was to nominate military officers, subject to the 

 advice of the Council, which was to nominate all civil officers. No money 

 was to be raised but by their joint order. Each Colony was to retain its 

 domestic constitution — the Federal Government was to regulate all relations 

 of peace or war with the Indians ; affairs of trade and purchases of lands 

 not within the bounds of particular Colonies ; to establish, organize and tem- 

 porarily to form new settlements ; to raise soldiers, and equip vessels of force 

 on the seas, riv«ns and lakes, to make laws, and levy just and equal taxes. 

 The Grand Council were to meet once a year ; to choose their ounn Speaker, 

 and neither to be dissolved, nor prorogued nor continue to sit more than six 

 weeks at any one time but by their own consent. 



" The Board of Trade," adds Bancroft, " on receiving the minutes of the 

 Congress was astonished at a plan of general government, complete in itself. 

 Reflecting men in England dreaded American Union as the keystone of inde- 

 pendence." 



It is "well worthy of note that Franklin's mind took a wider range, and 

 comprehended " the great country back of the Apalachian Mountains," where 

 he predicted in less than a century would grow up a populous and powerful 

 dominion ; and through Thomas Pownell, who had been present during the 

 deliberations at Albany, he advised the immediate organization of two new 

 Colonies in the west. 



The whole of this transaction offers so much incident for reflection and 

 application, that I make no apology for presenting it so much at large to 

 the Committee. 



This was the scheme devised by wise and practical men for protection 

 against foreign invasion and for internal improvement. 



England rejected it, and reflective men there, as Bancroft says, were jeal- 

 ous lest it should lead to the independence of the Colonies. 



May we not well doubt the reasonableness of the apprehension ; as 

 Burely we may question tihe liberality and generosity, and I will add the 

 justice of the principle that sought to keep the Colonies weak that they 

 might be preserved dependent. 



Let it be remarked that the thirteen Colonies whose Union was projected, 

 contained at that time less than one million and a half of people, including 

 the colored population. 



I reserve as illustrative of a later part of my argument, the Union of 



