Benjamin Franklin [1746 
when it was under consideration to make an applica- 
tion to Parliament to lay taxes on that colony, upon 
a deficiency arising from the assembly’s refusing or 
neglecting to raise the necessary supplies for the sup- 
port of the civil government? 
A. 1 never heard of it. 
Q. There was such an application under considera- 
tion in New York; and do you apprehend they 
could suppose the right of Parliament to lay a tax in 
America was only local, and confined to the case of 
a deficiency in a particular colony, by a refusal of its 
assembly to raise the necessary supplies? 
A. They could not suppose such a case, as that 
the assembly would not raise the necessary supplies 
to support its own government. An assembly that 
would refuse it must want common sense; which can- 
not be supposed. I think there was never any such 
case at New York, and that it must be a misrepre- 
sentation, or the fact must be misunderstood. I 
know there have been some attempts, by ministerial 
instructions from hence, to oblige the assemblies to 
settle permanent salaries on governors, which they 
wisely refused to do; but I believe no assembly of 
New York, or any other colony, ever refused duly to 
support government by proper allowances, from time 
to time, to public officers. 
OQ. But, in case a governor, acting by instruction, 
should call on an assembly to raise the necessary sup- 
plies, and the assembly should refuse to do it, do you 
not think it would then be for the good of the people 
of the colony, as well as necessary to government, 
that the Parliament should tax them? 
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