586 Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 28-May 13, 1758.

L.H.J
Liber No. sc
April i;

where they were Impressed, when they might have been got at a
much cheaper Rate in the Frontier County, and thereby the heavy
Charge of Carriage mostly prevented, is imposing an unnecessary
and heavy Burthen and Tax upon the People; and with what View
it has been done, we are at a Loss to imagine.

We cannot suppose that your Excellency would pursue such Mea-
sures, in order to disquiet and distress the good People of any
particular Part of this Province: But should a Power of marching
the Militia, even when there may be any trifling Incursion (tho' in
the present Case there was none) and that from Counties far
distant from the Place where it may happen, and carrying their
Provisions from those Counties, when they may be had much
cheaper on the Frontier, and the Expence of Carriage prevented,
be once established by frequent Use, under even plausible Pretences ;
if ever this Province should be so unfortunate as to be under the
Government of a Gentleman of less humane and benevolent Disposi-
tion than we are persuaded possesses your Excellency's Breast, we
tremble to reflect upon the Consequences ! Might it not justly be
feared (among many other Evils) that every Man, and every Set
of Men, who might in Discharge of the indispensible Duty of their
Stations, be obliged to act in such a Manner as might embarrass such
a Gentleman in his unjust Views, and their Favourers, Adherents
and Dependants, would soon feel the Weight of his Resentment, in
being compelled to march to the Frontiers of this Province, there to
be stationed during his Pleasure? Not in order to repel a foreign
Invasion, but to disgust the People against their Representatives,
and thereby procure a Compliance with all his unjust Demands, let

p. 47

them be never so ruinous and destructive to the Liberties and Proper-
ties of the People? We are sorry to say there is too much Room to
fear it might. And we hope we shall be excused, if, on this Occasion,
we trespass upon your Excellency's Patience, while we bring to
public View, the Behaviour of some of the good People of this Prov-
ince, when, from concurrent Accounts, a Probability of a foreign
Invasion appeared to them; and that not in This, but in a neighbour-
ing Province; and compare it with their Behaviour in the present
Case.
Upon a Report's prevailing some Time about the Month of Novem-
ber, 1755, that a Body of about Twelve Hundred French and Indians
had invaded Pennsylvania, and penetrated as far as the Town of
Lancaster in that Government; How did the People of this Province
behave ? Did they shew any Disloyalty or Disaffection to our present
happy Establishment? Did they shew any Want of Zeal for the
Common Cause, or Unwillingness to assist their Neighbours? Did
they wait till all the Influence of Government was made use of to per-
suade, and all it's Powers were stretched to the utmost, and new
ones assumed, to compel them to march ? No, on the contrary, they