Originally Posted by achoo

OT, but...

Lord I wish people who quote that would get the context right. It doesn't mean what you think it means. The "essential liberty" in question was the bearing of arms for self defense during the French and Indian War. Franklin is saying settlers who gave up the "essential liberty" of defending themselves with firearms deserved what they would then get from French troops and hostile native Americans.

http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/f...ol=6&page=238a



In other words, Franklin is saying that the government of Pennsylvania had established funds to provide firearms and ammunition to remote popullatons to defend themselves against "insiduous Attacks of small Parties of skulking Murderers", but those that refused that "essential liberty" of firearms and ammunition pretty much deserved what they got.