Revolution Diverted: The Galloway Plans Accepted

[Xen]

In the build up to the American Revolution an American Loyalist proposed an act of union between the Colonies and the United Kingdom. He was of course shouted down by radicals who wanted Independence, but at one point it was probable he could have convinced some important Americans to support his plan, such as Benjamin Franklin. Lets say in 1774 Franklin supports Galloway's plan and begins publishing the benefits of the plan across the American Colonies. Franklin claims in this plan not only will the American grievances be addressed, but it will avoid the bloodshed of war, and allow for Americans to remain under the protection of the King and the British Empire on more than less equal footing, but seperates the Colonies from Parliment, giving them representation in the Continental Congress.

Now the hard part is convincing George III, but let us assume the King goes for it, dismissing all those who oppose him in London, replacing them with Whigs and others who are more willing to cooperate. The American Revolution is avoided, and only a minor insurrection of radicals takes place. The Insurrection is easily put down by the British Army, its leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine are hung for treason.

28 Sept. 1774Journals 1:49--51
Resolution submitted by Joseph Galloway:

Resolved, That the Congress will apply to his Majesty for a redress of grievances under which his faithful subjects in America labour; and assure him, that the Colonies hold in abhorrence the idea of being considered independent communities on the British government, and most ardently desire the establishment of a Political Union, not only among themselves, but with the Mother State, upon those principles of safety and freedom which are essential in the constitution of all free governments, and particularly that of the British Legislature; and as the Colonies from their local circumstances, cannot be represented in the Parliament of Great-Britain, they will humbly propose to his Majesty and his two Houses of Parliament, the following plan, under which the strength of the whole Empire may be drawn together on any emergency, the interest of both countries advanced, and the rights and liberties of America secured.

A Plan of a proposed Union between Great Britain and the Colonies.

That a British and American legislature, for regulating the administration of the general affairs of America, be proposed and established in America, including all the said colonies; within, and under which government, each colony shall retain its present constitution, and powers of regulating and governing its own internal police, in all cases whatsoever.

That the said government be administered by a President General, to be appointed by the King, and a grand Council, to be chosen by the Representatives of the people of the several colonies, in their respective assemblies, once in every three years.

That the several assemblies shall choose members for the grand council in the following proportions, viz.

New Hampshire.

Massachusetts-Bay.

Rhode Island.

Connecticut.

New-York.

New-Jersey.

Pennsylvania.

Delaware Counties.

Maryland.

Virginia.

North Carolina.

South-Carolina.

Georgia.

Who shall meet at the city of for the first time, being called by the President-General, as soon as conveniently may be after his appointment.

That there shall be a new election of members for the Grand Council every three years; and on the death, removal or resignation of any member, his place shall be supplied by a new choice, at the next sitting of Assembly of the Colony he represented.

That the Grand Council shall meet once in every year, if they shall think it necessary, and oftener, if occasions shall require, at such time and place as they shall adjourn to, at the last preceding meeting, or as they shall be called to meet at, by the President-General, on any emergency.

That the grand Council shall have power to choose their Speaker, and shall hold and exercise all the like rights, liberties and privileges, as are held and exercised by and in the House of Commons of Great-Britain.

That the President-General shall hold his office during the pleasure of the King, and his assent shall be requisite to all acts of the Grand Council, and it shall be his office and duty to cause them to be carried into execution.

That the President-General, by and with the advice and consent of the Grand-Council, hold and exercise all the legislative rights, powers, and authorities, necessary for regulating and administering all the general police and affairs of the colonies, in which Great-Britain and the colonies, or any of them, the colonies in general, or more than one colony, are in any manner concerned, as well civil and criminal as commercial.

That the said President-General and the Grand Council, be an inferior and distinct branch of the British legislature, united and incorporated with it, for the aforesaid general purposes; and that any of the said general regulations may originate and be formed and digested, either in the Parliament of Great Britain, or in the said Grand Council, and being prepared, transmitted to the other for their approbation or dissent; and that the assent of both shall be requisite to the validity of all such general acts or statutes.

That in time of war, all bills for granting aid to the crown, prepared by the Grand Council, and approved by the President General, shall be valid and passed into a law, without the assent of the British Parliament.

 

[Wendell]

Think they might have negotiated on the details of such a plan.

 

[david3565]

Now the hard part is convincing George III, but let us assume the King goes for it, dismissing all those who oppose him in London, replacing them with Whigs and others who are more willing to cooperate. The American Revolution is avoided, and only a minor insurrection of radicals takes place. The Insurrection is easily put down by the British Army, its leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine are hung for treason.

The Continental Congress sent a proposal/plea to King George to restore the former conditions and relationship between the Colonies and Britain before hostilities ensued. Needless to say, good 'ol George declined the offer.

And George might consider strong-arming the Parliament, but King Charles I found out how well that goes with the English Civil War, in which he faced off against a Parliament using some of the very same arguments the Colonies were. Choosing between colonial upstarts and a war in his own back yard, I think he would choose the former.

And both were blithely unaware to how the Colonies were recieving their measures. The straw that broke the camel's back was a bill using very similar language to one that had been passed in regards to Ireland, which had resulted in some measure of outright tyranny. Franklin himself was acting as a go-between for the Colonies and Parliament, trying to avert conflict, but the last time he was there, he witnessed how the Parliamentarians regarded the Colonies as "little more than children to be chided" (paraphrasing). It was said that he went in an Englishman and left an American.

Now, I am not saying that the ARW couldn't be averted, but it would be quite hard.

 

[Dave Howery]

in spite of the cries of "no taxation without representation", that, and lack of representation in Parliament, weren't really the problem... the only solution that would have satisfied the colonies was for everything to go back the way it was before the crisis... basically, the colonies liked being ignored by English government, liked having lower taxes that weren't really enforced anyway, and liked smuggling a lot. Any solution that makes them pay taxes equal to those in Britain probably wouldn't be acceptable, no matter how much representation they had in London. As I've said before on this subject, by the time of the lead up to the Revolution, the colonies had been on their own far too much to accept being a closer part of the empire, with heavier taxes, larger garrisons, and all that...