Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/566

 — 36 — number of inhabitants, and the charges of each government for its immediate defence, are all to come under considera- tion. If this be allowed to be a just rule to determine by, we are sure, that not only in all past years, but in this present year also, we have done more in proportion to the general service, than any one government upon the continent. " We know of no quota settled for each colony ; the agree- ment made at Albany by the commissioners in the year 1754, has been generally urged as a rule of proportion since that time. But it was agreed by the same commissioners, that regard should always -be had to the special services of any colony for its immediate defence. We are obliged to keep six hundred men in pay in defence of our frontiers and sea- coasts. This charge some of the other governments are wholly free from, and the rest subject to in a very small de- gree. Exclusive of the six hundred men aforesaid, we have already raised five thousand men for the general service. Connecticut has raised in proportion to the five thousand, only according to the Albany plan, without any regard to the six hundred. Every other govei'nment falls short even of that; so that we have this year already done more in proportion than any of our neighbours. " We are told that we are the leading province: we have been so for many years past ; and we have been as long un- equally burdened. We have borne it patiently, although we have seen our inhabitants leaving us, and removing to other governments to live more free from taxes ; and a few years ago for this reason alone, four of our principal towns refused any longer to submit to our jurisdiction, and another govern- ment found a pretence for receiving them, and they are not yet returned to us. u Under these distresses, we are still willing to afford every reasonable aid in our power. A further impress would dis- tress and discourage the people to such a degree, that as well in faithfulness to the service, as to the particular interest of this province, we are bound to decline it. But great as our burdens are, we have now engaged a bounty more than double