ALBANY CONGRESS, a gathering of delegates from sev eral American colonies important for the plan which it devised for colonial union. In accordance with instructions from the British Board of Trade (Sept. 18, 1753), 25 delegates, repre senting the four New England colonies, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, met at Albany, N. Y., on June 19, 1754, for the express purpose of formulating a concerted Indian policy. It was early apparent to the delegates that the question of colonial union was of even greater importance than a common Indian policy, so a committee was appointed to prepare a plan. The plan re ported was chiefly the work of Benjamin Franklin and was unani mously adopted. It provided for a president-general to be ap pointed by the Crown, and for a grand council to be el_ected by the colonial assemblies. This grand council was empowered to raise and pay soldiers, to build forts, and to equip vessels to guard the coasts. The necessary funds were to be raised by the grand coun cil, which was to have power to levy taxes and impose general duties. In this grant of power is seen the first suggestion of the important Federal principle which underlies the entire Federal structure in the United States—the right of the General Govern ment to operate directly upon individuals. The plan was too com prehensive to suit the various Colonial Governments, which either rejected or failed to ratify it. It was never formally presented to the British Government. As a result of this unfavourable action by the Colonial Governments the Albany congress failed to solve either the question of colonial union or of joint Indian policy.
See R. Frothingham, Rise of the Republic of the U.S. (1881) ; G. L. Beer, British Colcnial Policy, 1754-1765 (1907) ; E. B. Greene, Foundations of American Nationality (1922) ; J. T. Adams, Revolu, tionary New England (1923) . (C. C. TA.)