1480. CONFEDERATION, Franklin's plan for.—
I was absent from Congress from
the beginning of January, 1776, to the middle
of May. Either just before I left Congress,
or immediately on my return to it (I rather
think it was the former), Dr. Franklin put
into my hands the draft of a plan of Confederation,
desiring me to read it, and tell him
what I thought of it. I approved it highly.
He showed it to others. Some thought as I
did; others were revolted at it. We found it
could not be passed, and the proposing it
to Congress as the subject for any vote
whatever would startle many members so
much, that they would suspect we had lost
sight of reconciliation with Great Britain,
and that we should lose much more
ground than we should gain by the proposition.
Yet, that the idea of a more firm
bond of union than the undefined one under
which we then acted might be suggested and
permitted to grow, Dr. Franklin informed
Congress that he had sketched the outlines of
an instrument which might become necessary
at a future day, if the ministry continued pertinacious,
and would ask leave for it to lay
on the table of Congress, that the members
might in the meantime be turning the subject
in their minds, and have something more
perfect prepared by the time it should become
necessary. This was agreed to by the more
timid members, only on condition that no
entry whatever should be made in the journals
of Congress relative to this instrument.
This was to continue in force only till a
reconciliation with Great Britain. This is all
that ever was done or proposed in Congress
on the subject of a Confederation before June,
1776, when the proposition was regularly
made to Congress, a committee appointed to
draw an instrument of Confederation, who
accordingly drew one, very considerably differing
from the sketch of Dr. Franklin.—
Notes on M. Soulés's Work. Washington ed. ix, 303.
Ford ed., iv, 310.
(P.
1786)
