The Selection of Ben Franklin for The Albany Congress

In the memoirs of Ben Franklin, he wrote, “In 1754, war with France being again apprehended, a congress of commissioners from the different colonies was, by an order of the lords of trade, to be assembled at Albany, there to confer with the chiefs of the Six Nations concerning the means of defending both their country and ours. Governor Hamilton having received this order, acquainted the house with it, requesting they would furnish proper presents for the Indians, to be given on this occasion; and naming the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself, to join Mr. John Penn and Mr. Secretary Peters, as commissioners to act for Pennsylvania.”[1] It is important to note the connotation Franklin used as he wrote this. It does not at all seem that being given this high honor and responsibility is at all unusual or unexpected. This points to his regularity of involvement in important political matters. He goes on to write, “In our way thither I projected and drew up a plan for the union of all the colonies under one government, so far as might be necessary for defense and other important general purposes. As we passed through New-York, I had there shown my project to Mr. James Alexander and Mr. Kennedy, two gentlemen of great knowledge in public affairs, and being fortified by their approbation, I ventured to lay it before the Congress. It then appeared that several of the commissioners had formed plans of the same kind. A previous question was first taken, whether a union should be established, which passed in the affirmative unanimously. A committee was then appointed, one member from each colony, to consider the several plans and report. Mine happened to be preferred, and, with a few amendments, was accordingly reported."[2]

Franklin, Benjamin, Henry Stueber, Richard Price, and Nathan Douglas. The life of dr. Benjamin Franklin. Danbury Conn.: Printed and sold by N. Douglas, 1795. (p 149) 1

Franklin, Benjamin, Henry Stueber, Richard Price, and Nathan Douglas. The life of dr. Benjamin Franklin. Danbury Conn.: Printed and sold by N. Douglas, 1795. (p.150) 2