to having our peaceful settlers barbarously murdered, and our
western border desolated and encroached upon; when it becomes known
that this is the doing of jealous France, not of the Indians
themselves, then it is time to take a wider outlook. Let the
question of the proprietary lands stand over till another time; the
question may then be settled at a less price than is being paid for
it now, when every month's delay costs us the lives of helpless
women and children, and when humanity herself is crying aloud in
our streets."

Ashley, although he had long been on most friendly terms with the
Quaker population of the town, was not by faith a Quaker, and was
growing impatient with the Assembly and its stubborn policy of
resistance. He felt that his old friend Franklin should know
better, and show a wider spirit. He had acted with promptness and
patriotism earlier in the year, when Braddock's luckless expedition
had applied to him for help. But in this warfare he was sternly
resolved on the victory over the Governor, and at this moment it
seemed as though all Philadelphia was much more eager to achieve
this than to defend the borders of the colony.

Hitherto the danger had not appeared pressing to the eastern part
of the colony. They were in no danger from Indian raids, and they
had small pity for their brethren on the western frontier. Between
them and the encroaching Indians lay a population, mostly German,
that acted like a buffer state to them; and notwithstanding that
every post brought in urgent appeals for help, they passed the time
in wrangling with the Governor, in drawing up bills professing to
be framed to meet the emergency, but each one of them containing
the clause through which the Governor was forced to draw his pen.