Chapter 27
While the repeal of the Stamp Act was under discussion in the Commons, Dr. Franklin--then Deputy Postmaster-General for America--was summoned to give evidence at the bar of the House. His examination was long and minute. His thorough knowledge of all the subjects, his independence and candour made a deep impression, but he was dismissed from office the day after giving his evidence. Some of the questions and answers are as follows:
Question.--What is your name and place of abode?
Answer.--Franklin, of Philadelphia.
Q.--Do the Americans pay any considerable taxes among themselves?
A.--Certainly; many and very heavy taxes.
Q.--What are the present taxes in Pennsylvania levied by the laws of the colony?
A.--There are taxes on all estates, real and personal; a poll-tax; a tax on all offices, professions, trades, and businesses, according to their profits; an excise on all wine, rum, and other spirits; and a duty of 10 per head on all negroes imported; with some other duties.
Q.--For what purpose are those taxes levied?
A.--For the support of the civil and military establishment of the country, and to discharge the heavy debt contracted in the last war.
Q.--Are not you concerned in the management of the post-office in America?
A.--Yes. I am Deputy Postmaster-General of North America.
Q.--Don't you think the distribution of stamps, by post, to all the inhabitants, very practicable, if there was no opposition?
A.--The posts only go along the sea coasts; they do not, except in a few instances, go back into the country; and if they did, sending for stamps by post would occasion an expense of postage amounting, in many cases, to much more than that of the stamps themselves.
Q.--Are not the colonies, from their circ.u.mstances, very able to pay the stamp duty?
A.--In my opinion, there is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one year.
Q.--Don't you know that the money arising from the stamps was all to be laid out in America?
A.--I know it is appropriated by the Act to the American service; but it will be spent in the conquered colonies, where the soldiers are, not in the colonies that pay it.
Q.--Is there not a balance of trade due from the colonies where the troops are posted, that will bring back the money to the old colonies?
A.--I think not. I believe very little would come back. I know of no trade likely to bring it back. I think it would come from the colonies where it was spent, directly to England; for I have always observed that in every colony the more plenty the means of remittance to England, the more goods are sent for, and the more trade with England carried on.
Q.--What may be the amount of one year's imports into Pennsylvania from Britain?
A.--I have been informed that our merchants compute the imports from Britain to be above 500,000.
Q.--What may be the amount of the produce of your province exported to Britain?
A.--It must be small, as we produce little
Q.--How then do you pay the balance?
A.--The balance is paid by our produce carried to the West Indies, and sold in our own island, or to the French, Spaniards, Danes and Dutch; by the same carried to other colonies in North America, as to New England, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Carolina and Georgia; by the same carried to different parts of Europe, as Spain, Portugal and Italy. In all which places we receive either money, bills of exchange, or commodities that suit for remittance to Britain; which together with all the profits on the industry of our merchants and mariners, arising in those circuitous voyages, and the freights made by their s.h.i.+ps, centre finally in Britain to discharge the balance, and pay for British manufactures continually used in the province, or sold to foreigners by our traders.
Q.--Do you think it right that America should be protected by this country and pay no part of the expense?
A.--That is not the case. The colonies raised, clothed, and paid, during the last war, nearly 25,000 men, and spent many millions.
Q.--Were not you reimbursed by Parliament?
A.--We were only reimbursed what, in your opinion, we had advanced beyond our proportion, or beyond what might reasonably be expected from us; and it was a very small part of what we spent.
Pennsylvania, in particular, disbursed about 500,000, and the reimburs.e.m.e.nts in the whole did not exceed 60,000.
Q.--You have said that you pay heavy taxes in Pennsylvania; what do they amount to in the pound?
A.--The tax on all estates, real and personal, to eighteen-pence in the pound, fully rated; and the tax on the profits of trades and professions, with other taxes, do, I suppose, make full half-a-crown in the pound.
Q.--Do you not think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty if it were moderated?
A.--No, never, unless compelled by the force of arms.
Q.--What was the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year 1763?
A.--The best in the world. They submitted willingly to the government of the Crown, and paid, in all their courts, obedience to Acts of Parliament. Numerous as the people are in the several old provinces, they cost you nothing in forts, citadels, garrisons, or armies, to keep them in subjection. They were governed by this country at the expense only of a little pen, ink and paper. They were led by a thread. They had not only a respect, but an affection for Great Britain, for its laws, its customs and manners, and even a fondness for its fas.h.i.+ons, that greatly increased the commerce.
Natives of Britain were always treated with particular regard; to be an Old-Englandman was of itself a character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among us.
Q.--And what is their temper now?
A.--Oh! very much altered.
Q.--Did you ever hear the authority of Parliament to make laws for America questioned till lately?
A.--The authority of Parliament was allowed to be valid in all laws, except such as should levy internal taxes. It was never disputed in levying duties to regulate commerce.
Q.--In what light did the people of America use to consider the Parliament of Great Britain?
A.--They considered the Parliament as the great bulwark and security of their liberties and privileges, and always spoke of it with the utmost respect and veneration. Arbitrary ministers, they thought, might possibly at times attempt to oppress them; but they relied on it, that the Parliament on application would always give redress. They remembered with grat.i.tude a strong instance of this, when a Bill was brought into Parliament, with a clause to make royal instructions laws in the colonies, which the House of Commons would not pa.s.s, and it was thrown out.
Q.--And have they not still the same respect for Parliament?
A.--No; it is greatly lessened.
Q.--To what causes is that owing?
A.--To a concurrence of causes; the restraints lately laid on their trade by which the bringing of foreign gold and silver into the colonies was prevented; the prohibition of making paper money among themselves, and then demanding a new and heavy tax by stamps; taking away at the same time trial by juries, and refusing to see and hear their humble pet.i.tions.
Q.--Don't you think they would submit to the Stamp Act if it was modified, the obnoxious parts taken out, and the duty reduced to some particulars of small moment?
A.--No; they will never submit to it.
Q.--What is your opinion of a future tax, imposed on the same principle of that of the Stamp Act; how would the Americans receive it?
A.--Just as they do this. They would not pay it.