Benjamin Franklin [1766 
very little concern, if they are never attempted to be 
carried into practice. The colonies will probably 
consider themselves in the same situation, in that 
respect, with Ireland; they know you claim the same 
right with regard to Ireland; but you never exercise 
it, and they may believe you never will exercise it in 
the colonies, any more than in Ireland, unless on some 
very extraordinary occasion. 
Q. But who are to be the judges of that extraor- 
dinary occasion? Is not the Parliament? 
A. Though the Parliament may judge of the occa- 
sion, the people will think it can never exercise such 
right, till representatives from the colonies are admit- 
ted into Parliament; and that, whenever the occasion 
arises, representatives will be ordered. 
QO. Did you ever hear that Maryland, during the 
last war, had refused to furnish a quota towards the 
common defence? 
A. Maryland has been much misrepresented in 
this matter. Maryland, to my knowledge, never re- 
fused to contribute or grant aids to the crown. The 
assemblies, every year during the war, voted con- 
siderable sums, and formed bills to raise them. The 
bills were, according to the constitution of that pro- 
vince, sent up to the Council, or Upper House, for 
concurrence, that they might be represented to the 
governor, in order to be enacted into laws. Un- 
happy disputes between the two Houses, arising 
from the defects of that constitution principally, 
rendered all the bills but one or two abortive. 
The proprietary’s council rejected them. It is true, 
Maryland did not then contribute its proportion; 
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