MARTINUS NI]HOFF - PUBLISHER - THE HAGUE

Just out:

THE PAXTON PAPERS Edited

with an introduction

by

JOHN R. DUNBAR

This book presents the reader an interesting view of an important phenomenon that has continually re-occured in American history - the repeated quarrel between the urban and commercial east and the rural and agricultural west. The Paxton papers, printed in Phi­ladelphia in 1764, demonstrate how deep seated the differences were. The rebellion on account of which the papers were published, was not only the direct result of ten years of Indian wars, but gives also expression to the tensions, caused by different interests, racial stock and religious background. One of the most important differ­ences arose from the fact that there was no equal representation in the assembly. The repeated petitions from the west demanding an increase in the legislative membership from that region were ignored.

The major longstanding sectional friction arose over frontier defense. In Pennsylvania, as in most American colonies, the west demanded a strong defense and an active protection of the frontier settlements. The assembly under the control of eastern men of property, was interested in an increasing Indian trade. To the one the Indians were both producer and consumer, to the other they were savage murderers standing in the way of westward advance. The west had no recourse for protection but to the Quaker controlled assembly.

All these troubles together caused the Paxton outburst. On Dec. 14, 1763 a band offrontiersmen rode into Conestoga Manor near the town of Paxton and murdered six Indians, who were living

MARTINUS NIJHOFF - PUBLISHER - THE HAGUE

under the protection of the colonial government. Two weeks later the Paxton boys, as they were called, descended on the Lancaster

. work house and killed the remaining fourteen Conestoga' Indians, who has been housed there for safety. Mter this outburst the government decided to house some one hundred and forty Indians in barracks in Philadelphia. Early in February 1764 two hundred frontiersmen, armed, marched on Philadelphia and demanded the Indians to be given up. The Philadelphians ,promptly organized the defense of their city. They sent Franklin and others to negotiate with the Paxton boys, in order to prevent bloodshed. The negotiators were successful: they promised that if the Paxtonians would write a statement of grievance and return home, the governor and assembly would give speedy consideration to their grievances.

A storm arose over how such events could have taken place. Especially the march created a sphere of displeasure. The presses of Philadelphia published numerous pamphlets - essays, verses, dialogues etc. - by means of which the excited people of Pennsyl­vania conducted the Paxton battle in the press. They argued, some­times seriously, sometimes humorously, the justice of the massacre of the Indians and the march on Philadelphia.

The rebellion itself was given voice and achieved focus by these discussions of an aroused people. Therein the arguments~took form, the lines of disagreement emerged, and the fundamental meaning of the rebellion was revealed to all who read.~ In the process of presenting the quarrel this material tells us much about that slightly later and much larger event, the American Revolution.

XII and 351 pages. Roy. 8vo. Cloth Guilders 24.50

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THE PAXTON PAPERS

THE PAXTON PAPERS

Edited

with an introduction

by

JOHN R. DUNBAR

MARTINUS NIJHOFF - THE HAGUE

1957

ISBN 978-94-015-0400-3 ISBN 978-94-015-1 005-9 (eBook) DOl 10.1007/978-94-015-1005-9

Copyright 1957 by Martinus Nijho.fJ, The Hague, Netherlands Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1957

All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thererif in any form

For L.R.D.

And V.E.D.

PREFACE

An attempt has been made to arrange the pamphlets reprinted in this volume in a chronological/argumentative sequence. The grammar, punctuation, and spelling of the originals have been kept; however, occasionally, where the spelling in the original might arouse serious question in the mind of the reader, the conventional symbol sic has been placed after the word.

For permission to reprint these pamphlets I wish to thank the American Philosophical Society; The Historical Society of Pennsylvania; The Huntington Library, San Marino, Califor­nia; The Library Company of Philadelphia; and The New York Public Library. I am particularly grateful for the generous help given me by the staffs of the American Philosophical Society and The Historical Society of Pennsylvania; I es­pecially wish to thank Mr. Nicholas Biddle Wainwright, Re­search Librarian of the latter Society, for prompt aid from a far distance in a number of trying circumstances.

For permission to quote from Mr. Brooke Hindle's "The March of the Paxton Men," thanks are due to Mr. Lawrence W. Turner, editor of the William and Mary Quarter!J.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface VII

Introduction I

A Narrative of the Late Massacres, in Lancaster County, of a Number of Indians, Friends of this Province, By Persons unknown. 55

Copy of a Letter From Charles Read, Esq: To The Hon: John Ladd, Esq: And his Associates, Justices of the Peace for the County of Gloucester. 77

The Cloven-Foot discovered. 83

A Dialogue, Between Andrew Trueman, And Thomas Zealot; About the killing the Indians At Cannestogoe And Lancaster. 87

A Serious Address, to Such of the Inhabitants of Pennsyl­vania, As have cannived at, or do approve of, the late Massacre of the Indians at Lancaster; or the Design of Killing those who are now in the Barracks at Philadelphia. 91

A Declaration And Remonstrance Of the distressed and bleeding Frontier Inhabitants Of the Province of Penn­sylvania, Presented by them to the Honourable the Governor and Assembly of the Province, Shewing the Causes Of their late Discontent and Uneasiness and the Grievances Under which they have laboured, and which they humbly pray to have redress'd.. 99

A Dialogue, Containing some Reflections on the late De­claration and Remonstrance, Of the Back-Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania. I I I

An Historical Account, of the late Disturbance, between the Inhabitants of the Back Settlements; of Pennsyl-vania, and the Philadelphians, &. 125

The Address of the People call'd Quakers, In the Pro-vince of Pennsylvania, To John Penn, Esquire, Lieu-tenant-Governor of the said Province, &. 131

x TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Squabble, A Pastoral Eclogue.

The Paxton Expedition.

The Paxton Boys, A Farce.

The Paxtoniade. A Poem.

A Battle! A Battle! A Battle of Squirt, Where no Man is kill'd And no Man is hurt! To the Tune of three blue Beans, in a blue Bladder; Rattle Bladder, Rattle! 173

The Apology of the Paxton Volunteers addressed to the candid & impartial World. 183

The Quaker Unmask'd; Or, Plain Truth: Humbly address'd to the Consideration of all the Freemen of Pennsylvania. 205

A Touch on the Times A New Song. 217

Remarks On The Quaker Unmask'd; Or Plain Truth found to be Plain Falshood: Humbly address'd to the Candid. 223

The Quaker Vindicated; Or, Observations On A Late Pamphlet, Entituled, The Quaker Unmask'd, Or, Plain Truth. 229

A Looking-Glass For Presbyterians. 243

The Author Of Quaker Unmask'd, Strip'd Start Naked, Or The Delineated Presbyterian Play'd Hob With. 257

The Conduct of the Paxton-Men, Impartially represented: with some Remarks on the Narrative. 265

A Looking-Glass, &. Numb. II. 299

An Answer, To The Pamphlet Entituled the Conduct of the P~ton Men, impartially represented: Wherein the ungenerous Spirit of the Author is Manifested, &. And the spotted Garment pluckt off. 317

The Plain Dealer: Or, A few Remarks upon Quaker­Politicks, And their Attempts to Change the Government of Pennsylvania. 339

TABLE OF CONTENTS XI

The Quakers Assisting. To Preserve the Lives of the Indians in the Barracks, Vindicated And proved to be consistent with Reason, agreeable to our Law, hath an inseperable Connection with the Law of God, and exactly agreeable with the Principles of the People call'd Quakers. 353

The Plain Dealer: Or, Remarks On Quaker Politicks In Pennsylvania. Numb. III. 365

The Quakers Assisting, To preserve the Lives of the Indians, in the Barracks, vindicated: Shewing wherein, the Author of the Quaker Unmask'd, hath turn'd King's Evidence; impeached himself, and cleared the Quakers from all the heavy Charges he hath Published against them. 387

Index 397