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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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;208 WAR AND POLITICS. [1745-1747.<strong>and</strong> defeat the governor's military plans at theirpleasure. In va<strong>in</strong> he told them, "If you deny methe necessary supplies, all my endeavors must becomefruitless ; I must wash my own h<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> leave atyour doors the blood <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>nocent people. " ^He urged upon them the necessity <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g fortson the two carry<strong>in</strong>g-places between the Hudson <strong>and</strong>Lakes George <strong>and</strong> Champla<strong>in</strong>, thus block<strong>in</strong>g thepath <strong>of</strong> war-parties from Canada. They would donoth<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g that the neighbor<strong>in</strong>g colonies, towhom the forts would also be useful, ought to help<strong>in</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g them ;<strong>and</strong> when it was found that thesecolonies were ready to do their part, the Assemblystill refused.Passionate opposition to the royal governorseemed to bl<strong>in</strong>d them to the <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> theprov<strong>in</strong>ce. Nor was the fault all on their side; forthe governor, though he generally showed more selfcontrol<strong>and</strong> moderation than could have been expected,sometimes lost temper <strong>and</strong> betrayed scorn for hisopponents, many <strong>of</strong> whom were but the<strong>in</strong>struments<strong>of</strong> leaders urged by personal animosities <strong>and</strong> smallbut <strong>in</strong>tense ambitions.They accused him <strong>of</strong> treat<strong>in</strong>gthem with contempt, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> embezzl<strong>in</strong>g public moneywhile he retorted by charg<strong>in</strong>g them with encroach<strong>in</strong>gon the royal prerogative <strong>and</strong> treat<strong>in</strong>g the representative<strong>of</strong> the K<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>in</strong>decency. Under such conditionsan efficient conduct <strong>of</strong>question.the war was out <strong>of</strong> the1 Extract from the Governor's Message, <strong>in</strong> Smith, History <strong>of</strong> NewYork/ii. 124(1830).

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