He had acted with promptness and patriotism earlier in the year, when Braddock's luckless expedition had applied to him for help.

But in this warfare he was sternly resolved on the victory over the Governor, and at this moment it seemed as though all Philadelphia was much more eager to achieve this than to defend the borders of the colony.
Hitherto the danger had not appeared pressing to the eastern part of the colony.

They were in no danger from Indian raids, and they had small pity for their brethren on the western frontier.

Between them and the encroaching Indians lay a population, mostly German, that acted like a buffer state to them; and notwithstanding that every post brought in urgent appeals for help, they passed the time in wrangling with the Governor, in drawing up bills professing to be framed to meet the emergency, but each one of them containing the clause through which the Governor was forced to draw his pen.
Governor Morris had written off to England stating the exceeding difficulty of his position.

His appeals to the Assembly to defend the colony were spirited and manly.