Beschreibung:

Contemporary manuscript draft of the Paxton Boys "Remonstrance" to Governor John Penn
Germantown or Philadelphia: c. 13 February 1764]. 4 pp., plus two additional blank leaves, folio (370 x 220 mm). Written in two different hands, the first half possibly that of Smith or Gibson, and the latter and signatures possibly in the hand of Benjamin Chew [see note to following lot]. Docketed on verso of the first terminal blank, “Smith & Gibson their Remonstrance / On behalf of the Frontier Inhabitants / 13:Feby 1764 / Copy.” Stitched together. Housed in a morocco-backed folding case. Condition : restoration repairing separations at the folds with only minimal losses, restitched. a primary document from the march of the paxton boys -- a revolutionary petition for equal representation and a declaration of natural rights. In December 1763, a group of men from the frontier town of Paxton Church, Pennsylvania, attacked and killed six peaceful Conestoga Indians, claiming they had assisted in the murder of other settlers. The remaining members of the tribe escaped and sought refuge from Governor John Penn Housed in a workhouse at Lancaster, the Paxton Boys mob broke into the goal and slaughtered the rest -- an incident that became known as the Conestoga Massacre. Outraged that the government had denounced their actions and was protecting other Native Americans, the Paxton Boys, now numbering about 250, marched on Philadelphia, reaching Germantown on February 5. “Dressed in blanket coats and moccasins, they looked like Indian traders. They carried rifles, tomahawks and pistols … ‘uttered hideous outcries in imitation of the war whoop, knocked down peaceable citizens, and pretended to scalp them’” (Hindle). Met there two days later by Benjamin Franklin and others, a peaceful resolution was reached. “After several hours’ talk, the men from the West agreed to return home, and the Philadelphians promised to give speedy consideration to all grievances, if laid before the assembly and governor in proper form. With this end in view, two of the leaders of the expedition, Matthew Smith and James Gibson were selected to remain in Philadelphia to draw up a declaration of grievances” (Hindle). Smith and Gibson must have begun drafting their Remonstrance almost immediately [with the assistance of Benjamin Chew? see the proceeding lot]. The present manuscript appears to be a retained copy of their original draft, no doubt created at the time of the original. The petition to Governor Penn contains nine articles. The first, and arguably the most significant, demands an equal apportionment of representatives from the frontier counties in the Assembly, which was heavily dominated by the Philadelphia Quaker regions: “We apprehend that as Free Men & English subjects, we have an indisputable Title to the same Priveleges & Immunities with his Majesties other subjects … & therefore ought not to be excluded from an equal share with them in the very important Privelege of Legislation … this we humbly conceive is oppressive, unequal & unjust, the cause of many of our Grievances & an infringement of our natural privileges of freedom & Equality…” The second article objects to a Bill in the Assembly, introduced almost immediately after the murders, that called for a trial of the Paxton Boys to be held in Philadelphia, Chester or Bucks County: “This is manifestly to deprive British Subjects of their known Privileges, to cast an eternal reproach upon whole Counties as if they were unfitt to serve their Country in the quality of Jury Men, & to contradict the well known laws of the British Nation in a Point, whereon Life, Liberty &Security essentially depend…” The third article reveiws the hardships endured by the frontier settlers at the hands of the “most savage cruelty,” defends their actions against the Moravian Indians, arguing that they “were in confederacy with our open Enemies,” were “privy to their Murders and Ravages” and had only come peacefully to the settlers “to be maintained thro’ the Winter, that they may be able to scalp and butcher us in t