Volume I Part 27 (1/2)

While the repeal of the Stamp Act was under discussion in the Commons, Dr. Franklin--then Deputy Postmaster-General for America--was summoned to give evidence at the bar of the House. His examination was long and minute. His thorough knowledge of all the subjects, his independence and candour made a deep impression, but he was dismissed from office the day after giving his evidence. Some of the questions and answers are as follows:

Question.--What is your name and place of abode?

Answer.--Franklin, of Philadelphia.

Q.--Do the Americans pay any considerable taxes among themselves?

A.--Certainly; many and very heavy taxes.

Q.--What are the present taxes in Pennsylvania levied by the laws of the colony?

A.--There are taxes on all estates, real and personal; a poll-tax; a tax on all offices, professions, trades, and businesses, according to their profits; an excise on all wine, rum, and other spirits; and a duty of 10 per head on all negroes imported; with some other duties.

Q.--For what purpose are those taxes levied?

A.--For the support of the civil and military establishment of the country, and to discharge the heavy debt contracted in the last war.

Q.--Are not you concerned in the management of the post-office in America?

A.--Yes. I am Deputy Postmaster-General of North America.

Q.--Don't you think the distribution of stamps, by post, to all the inhabitants, very practicable, if there was no opposition?

A.--The posts only go along the sea coasts; they do not, except in a few instances, go back into the country; and if they did, sending for stamps by post would occasion an expense of postage amounting, in many cases, to much more than that of the stamps themselves.

Q.--Are not the colonies, from their circ.u.mstances, very able to pay the stamp duty?

A.--In my opinion, there is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one year.

Q.--Don't you know that the money arising from the stamps was all to be laid out in America?

A.--I know it is appropriated by the Act to the American service; but it will be spent in the conquered colonies, where the soldiers are, not in the colonies that pay it.

Q.--Is there not a balance of trade due from the colonies where the troops are posted, that will bring back the money to the old colonies?

A.--I think not. I believe very little would come back. I know of no trade likely to bring it back. I think it would come from the colonies where it was spent, directly to England; for I have always observed that in every colony the more plenty the means of remittance to England, the more goods are sent for, and the more trade with England carried on.

Q.--What may be the amount of one year's imports into Pennsylvania from Britain?

A.--I have been informed that our merchants compute the imports from Britain to be above 500,000.

Q.--What may be the amount of the produce of your province exported to Britain?

A.--It must be small, as we produce little that is wanted in Britain. I suppose it cannot exceed 40,000.

Q.--How then do you pay the balance?

A.--The balance is paid by our produce carried to the West Indies, and sold in our own island, or to the French, Spaniards, Danes and Dutch; by the same carried to other colonies in North America, as to New England, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Carolina and Georgia; by the same carried to different parts of Europe, as Spain, Portugal and Italy. In all which places we receive either money, bills of exchange, or commodities that suit for remittance to Britain; which together with all the profits on the industry of our merchants and mariners, arising in those circuitous voyages, and the freights made by their s.h.i.+ps, centre finally in Britain to discharge the balance, and pay for British manufactures continually used in the province, or sold to foreigners by our traders.

Q.--Do you think it right that America should be protected by this country and pay no part of the expense?