T.N.G. SIGNS OF THE TIMES - N.M. August 27, 2003 (#123)
Greetings from Russell's Remnant: www.oocities.org/dkone_us
Benjamin Franklin and Congress
The following exchange took place between a member of Dr. Russell Whitesell’s TNG and Franklin Scholars:
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To: Friends of Franklin at Yale and the American Philosophical Society 11/22/02
During the closing minutes of the PBS special on Ben Franklin, they stated that when Ben came home from France for good, he asked Congress for only two things - a piece of land to the west, and a job for one of his grandchildren. The series stated that Congress denied both requests and added that they also did not reimburse Franklin for his expenses while he was our emissary to France for all those years.
This shocked me to no end. I was very upset and still am if it is true. Do you know the facts about this refusal by Congress to reimburse Franklin or his two other requests? Is there someone who I could write to to find out just what went on about Franklin's request or payments or expenses? Did our Congress screw Franklin? Please put me in touch with those who know. Thank you, B.W. (TNG)
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From: Kathy DeLuca November 24, 2002 Subject: Re: PBS Franklin Series
B.,
I will forward your e-mail to a few Friends of Franklin at Yale and the American
Philosophical Society to see if they can answer your question.
Kathy DeLuca
The Friends of Franklin, Inc.
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From: Kate Ohno November 25, 2002 Subject: Congress' account with Benjamin Franklin
Dear Mr. W.,
Your query was forwarded to me by the Friends of Franklin. Franklin did indeed
have trouble with settling his accounts with Congress once he returned to
the United States. To him, this was more a matter of preserving his good reputation
than getting reimbursed. On Nov. 29, 1788, he wrote to Cyrus Griffin, then
President of Congress, "It is now more than three years that those accounts
have been before that honourable body [Congress], and, to this day, no notice
of any such objection [to the accounts BF submitted] has been communicated
to me. But reports have, for some time past, been circulated here, and propagated
in the newspapers, that I am greatly indebted to the United States for large
sums, that had been put into my hands, and I avoid a settlement. This, together
with the little time one of my age may expect to live, makes it necessary
for me to request earnestly, which I hereby do, that the Congress would be
pleased, without further delay, to examine those accounts, and if they find
therein any article or articles, which they do not understand or approve,
that they would cause me to be acquainted with the same, that I may have an
opportunity of offering such explanations or reasons in support of them as
may be in my power, and then that the accounts may be finally closed."
There is no evidence that Congress ever responded to his letter, although
he asked that it be read into the record of that body. Then, a month later,
he wrote a private letter expressing his frustration to his friend Charles
Thomson, who had served for many years as Secretary of Congress . It was in
this letter that he wistfully described his expectations from Congress; he
knew that in Europe it was customary to make some provision for retired foreign
service officers. He wished that "Congress would at least have been kind
enough to have shewn their approbation of my conduct by a grant of some small
tract of land in their Western Country... .
But how different what has happened to me!
" Here, all his bitterness flowed onto the page. Among other things,
he lamented the failure of Congress to appoint his grandson, William Temple
Franklin, to a diplomatic post; the young man had worked hard as the Secretary
to the American Peace Commission in France, and Franklin "took the liberty
of recommending him to the Congress for their protection. This was the only
favour I ever asked of them; and the only answer I received was a Resolution
superseding him..." If you want to read Franklin's letters for yourself,
they are published in Albert H. Smyth, ed., The Writings of Benjamin Franklin
(10 vols., New York, 1905-7), ix, 686-8, 691-7.
Sincerely,
Kate M. Ohno
Assistant Editor
The Papers of Benjamin Franklin
Yale University
PO Box 208240
New Haven, CT 06520-8240
tel (203) 432-1813
email kate.ohno@yale.edu
http://www.yale.edu/franklinpapers/index.html
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Dear Ms. Ohno: 11/25/02
Thank you for the timely and detailed response. I find this extremely rare in these modern times. I am deeply grateful for your e-mail about Mr. Franklin and the Congress. When I heard this story in the PBS piece on Mr. Franklin, I was moved to anger and to tears. That is why I decided to follow up to make sure my information was correct. Your e-mail obviously confirms the PBS' story.
This troubled me. My motto at that time was, "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."
… after becoming disenchanted by (business and government) segments - I left the exoteric world and became an esoteric philosopher in 1976. I studied most of the world religions, philosophies, and ethics and learned of the great men that helped humanity on the planet. Mr. Franklin, Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln all fit in the category of servers of humanity from the U.S.
I took over my mentor’s esoteric philosophy group, The Tuesday Night Group (TNG), the TNG Esoteric Newsletter on the Internet, and the work to bring a little more light to humanity. I am a piker compared to Mr. Franklin. He was and still is a giant who served the planet. He gave humanity many new ideas and things and did not patent his inventions, I believe. He was a wonderful man and did a lot for America as well as the whole world. I care about him and appreciate his work.
The moment I heard about what Congress did to him, I called the editor of our newsletter. She asked my why I was upset and crying. I told her about the PBS story and what Congress did to Ben. She asked me why I remained so upset. I told her that I wanted to apologize to him for what our government did to him as well as thank him for what he did for America - but I obviously am unable to do that on this physical plane. I have meditated and sent him thanks on the mental plane. Now I want to thank him by thanking you and your associates for caring for Mr. Franklin's papers as well as keeping his ideas alive for humanity.
As our mentor, Dr. Russell Whitesell, used to say, "Thank you until you are better paid."
B.W.
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Editor’s note: D.K. points out in the Alice Bailey books that Russia, Great Britain and the USA will have a great effect upon the return of the Christ. Each of these countries must overcome an individual problem. America’s problem to overcome is “corrupt politics” and is last among the three countries in solving its problem. It would appear that Mr. Franklin came face to face with this problem even as our country was just beginning.