To the Honorable Benjamin Franklin Esqr President and the Supreme executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania In their Chamber met, The Peition of a very considerable Number of the good Inhabitants of the County of Chester

That Whereas, all Government ought to be instituted and supported for the Security and Protection of the Community as such, and to enable the Individuals who compose it to enjoy their Natural Rights, and the other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed upon Man; and whenever these great ends of Government are not obtained, the People have a Right by common Consent to change it, and take such measures as to them may seem necessary to promote their Safety and Happiness.

And Wheras the Inhabitants of this Country have hitherto in Consideration of the various Blessings and Advantages arising from a well regulated Government, acknowledged Allegiance to the ruling Powers in this Commonwealth as well as rendering every Assistance in their Power in order that a Code of Law by a wise Legislature in their Behalf framed might be carefully and attentively inforced

And Whereas the Constitution informs us that Government is or ought to be instituted for the common Benefit and the Security of the People and not for the particular Emolument or Advantage of any single Man, or set of men, who are a Part only of that Community, and that when Oppression lifts its Head it is in the Power of the People to reform alter and abolish such Parts of the Government as are oppressive in such manner as the People or the Majority of the People may think proper or judge most conducive to the public Weal, and that the People have a right at such Periods them may    “to reduce their Public Officers to a private Station and supply the Vacancies as by Law directed.”

We your Petitioners therefore conceiving ourselves injured by reason of the Mal-Practices of an Officer now in the Possession of a Post both of Honor and Profit take this Opportunity and this Mode of laying our Complaints before your Honors, pray in a Redress may be granted upon the Premisses.

The Officer here alluded to is the Prothonotary of our County in whom there is a considerable Trust reposed and who has so basely abused that trust as loudly calls for the Interference of your Honor: and as the most effectual Mode of obtaining Relief, upon such an Occasion is by prefering a Petition for the dissmissing of the Officer we have therefore thrown ourselves at the Feet of your Honors in humble Supplication for Redress and notwithstanding it is a point of Delicacy the petitioning to displace a Person who by his Felow Cityzens was once thought worthy of their Friendship and Confidence. Yet we find it a Duty incumbent on us as well as the rest of our Brethren who share our Fate to interest ourselves upon the Occasion and shew the Haughty and imperious that where Gratitude is wanting it is in the power of the People with the Assistance of ministerial and executive Officers to reduce the Superiority of a Mogul even to the lowness of a Yeoman.

We conceive it unnecessary to state to your Honorable Body any particular Tactics of the Prothonotary of our County; it would be indeed be an endless Task, but we beg leave to inform your Honors that some of us are in the Possession of Facts which if unfolded to your Honors will we rest satisfied secure a Determination in our favour and which if called upon we are ready to testify. Our Charge at present is his general Misconduct in the discharge of the duty of his Office.

Mr. Davis’s Conduct has been and still is such as has gain’d him the illwill of every well-disposed Person and has reduced him in the Opinion of every Person so much that they esteem him not worthy their Confidence. We therefore in our own Behalf and in Behalf of those of our Brethren who have not the Happiness of an Oppertunity of joining us in this our humble Request, pray that your Honors may as soon as convenent take the Premises into your serious Consideration and Grant the wished for Relief and your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever Pray.