The designer Christopher Gadsden, a Son of Liberty, from Charleston, SC, was a contemporary of Franklin and a delegate to the Continental Congress.
Cool. It would be kinda neat to draw a definite line connecting Franklin's comment to the flag.
For example, one can draw a definite connection between John Adams and the Fourth Amendment.
In the 1750's or 60's the king died--George II. In the colonies, general warrants had been issued while the king was alive. They were called Writs of Assistance. They allowed the king's agents to search for certain untaxed goods where ever the agent wanted on the flimsiest excuse--no probable cause needed. One little problem: the Writs expired six months after the death of the king.
So, when the king died, the writs had to be re-authorized. New problem: some colonial governments were reluctant to authorize new writs. Even the Attorney General of England admitted there was no legal authority to
compel a colonial officer to issue a Writ of Assistance.
So, it had to be settled in colonial courts. For example, a southern state (South Carolina?) thoroughly ducked and dodged issuing a new Writ of Assistance.
It came to a head, partly, in Paxton's Case. A fella named Paxton sued in court to force a new Writ of Assistance be issued to him. A fella named Otis showed up in court. Claiming to represent the people, he argued for three or four
hours against the issuance of a Writ. In the audience that day was a young lawyer named John Adams. Years late Adams said (paraphrase) that in that courtroom the flame of liberty was kindled.
Years later, Adams had documented influence in the adoption of the Fourth Amendment.
So, a direct link can be drawn between Adams, the 4A, and what he witnessed that day in Paxton's case.
It would be kinda cool to have a direct documented link between Franklin, his rattlesnake recommendation, and the Gadsden flag.