Benjamin Franklin was an intelligent man. Given the situation, Ben would agree with me. You do not let Americans die unnecessarily. It is like Lincoln who stopped Freedom of the Press and Warrentless Searches during the Civil War. Besides, I hate to tell you this, but FDR started these phone surveillance programs, not Bush.
Ben Franklin's quote is very cut and dry. You don't know what Franklin would have thought, or agreed to-and neither do I. But don't pretend like you do-it's actually pretty said. Unless you have some sort of evidence to back up your claim-I'd be all ears to it.
Franklin said this, and we both know he was around for the Boston Massacre, British oppression, and other similar serious threats to American lives. The reason why Franklin (and the other founding fathers) fought the British was for freedom from oppression-and wanted the least amount of power given to the federal government as reasonably possible. And he still believed (and stated) that we should not give up any liberty for any sense of security.
edit: And I'm not sure about you, but I don't consider upholding, and keeping our liberty as an "unnecessary".