2 Benjamin Franklin [1777 
naked and unarmed, and butcher them in cold blood ? 
Is this your courage? Is this your magnanimity? 
Britain. Oh! you wicked—Whig—Presbyterian 
—Serpent! Have you the impudence to appear be- 
fore me after all your disobedience? Surrender im- 
mediately all your liberties and properties into my 
hands, or I will cut you to pieces. Was it for this 
that I planted your country at so great an expense? 
That I protected you in your infancy, and defended 
you against all your enemies? 
America. 1 shall not surrender my liberty and 
property, but with my life. It is not true, that my 
country was planted at your expense. Your own 
records * refute that falsehood to your face. Nor did 
you ever afford me a man or a shilling to defend me 
against the Indians, the only enemies I had upon my 
I See the Journals of the House of Commons, 1642, Viz.: 
“Die Veneris, Martit 10°, 1642. 
“Whereas the plantations in New England have, by the blessing of 
Almighty God, had good and prosperous success, without any public 
charge to this State; and are now likely to prove very happy for the 
propagation of the Gospel in those parts, and very beneficial and com- 
modious to this kingdom and nation; the Commons now assembled in 
Parliament do, for the better advancement of those plantations, and 
the encouragement of the planters to proceed in their undertaking, 
ordain, that all merchandises and goods, that by any merchant, or 
other person or persons whatsoever, shall be exported out of this 
kingdom of England into New England, to be spent, used, or employed 
there; or, being of the growth of that kingdom, shall be from thence 
imported hither, or shall be laden or put on board in any ship or vessel 
for necessaries in passing or returning to and fro; and all and every 
the owner or owners thereof, shall be freed and discharged of and 
from paying and yielding any custom, subsidy, taxation, imposition, 
or other duty for the same, either inward or outward, either in this 
kingdom or New England, or in any port, haven, creek, or other 
place whatsoever, until the House of Commons shall take further 
order therein to the contrary, And all and singular customers, etc., 
are to observe this order.” 
'i8