Existing comment:
Association for Defense of Pennsylvania, 1747
In the first half of the 18th century, tensions between settlers and Native Americans were on the rise, and European powers had territorial ambitions of their own. Realizing that Pennsylvania's Quaker-dominated legislature valued peace above self-defense. Franklin used his press to make a characteristic proposal: that his fellow citizens join together to protect themselves. In 1747 he co-signed a document that established a voluntary militia to protect Pennsylvania against the French, the Native Americans, and the Spanish ship then conducting raids along the Delaware River.
"Our militia ... are sufficient to defend our lands from invasion ... We, therefore, have not the occasion you imagine, of fleets or standing armies, but may leave those expensive machines to e maintained for the pomp of princes, and the wealth of ancient states."
-- Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Charles de Weissenstein, 1778 |