30 a short history of the united states
regulate such matters as Indian affairs, public lands, and a colonial
militia. This was the first attempt by American settlers to form a
continental government to act for the entire English population within
the colonies. But to Franklin’s intense disappointment, the king and
several colonial legislatures rejected the plan.
Because of their long history of conducting their own local affairs,
the colonists believed they were merely acting on their rights as En-
glishmen. Besides, the policy of “salutary neglect” pursued by Parlia-
ment seemed to confirm their claim. They regarded their legislative
assemblies as one expression of their right to enact laws commensurate
with perceived local needs, not the gift of a temporarily distracted or
overburdened Parliament.
Parliament, of course, saw it differently. The colonists were British
subjects and therefore obliged to obey the laws enacted by the central
government in London. It was all well and good to have local assem-
blies operating in the colonies, but they were inferior to Parliament,
which could alter or nullify what they enacted when and if it confl icted
with imperial needs. Such a difference of conception about their posi-
tion and rights was sure to produce a collision. And it was not long
before the collision burst into violence.