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Your memorialists have beheld with regret the feeble influence of reason and religion in restraining the evils, which they have enumerated. They centre their hopes, therefore, of an effectual remedy for them in the wis- dom and power of the United States; and in behalf of the interests of humanity, to which their profession is closely allied, they thus publicly intreat the Congress, by their obligations to protect the lives of their consti- tuents, and by their regard to the character of our na- tion, and to the rank of our species in the scale of be- ings, to impose such heavy duties upon all distilled spirits as shall be effectual to restrain their intemperate use in our country."
Members present at the adoption of this address :---
Doctors John Redman, President, John Jones, Vice President, Robert Harris, Nicholas B. Waters, Thomas Parke, William Currie, Benjamin S. Barton, Nathan Dorsey, Benjamin Rush, Michael Leib, William W. Smith, Adam Kuhn, Samuel P. Griffitts, Secretaries.
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PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS.
LJULY
From the Philadelphia Gazette .. PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS.
Thursday evening, Muy 23, 1833.
SELECT COUNCIL .- The annexed communication from the Treasurer of the Girard fund, was received, and referred to the committee of accounts to audit.
To the President and Members of the Select and Com- mon Councils.
Treasurer's office of the Girard Trust, 2 May 23d, 1833.
Gentlemen,-By the 16th section of the Ordinance for the management of the Girard Estates, enacted on the 31st January, 1833, it is ordained "That a Standing Committee of Accounts consisting of three members of each Council, shall be chosen annually by ballot, of each Council, at a stated meeting of Councils in October, who shall examine quarterly or oftener, if they shall deem it necessary, the Treasurer's accounts, comparing the actual receipts and expenditures with the Entries and Exhibits thereof, &c. and report the same to Coun- cils."
This ordinance having been passed in January last, no regular election will take place for the Standing Committee of accounts until October next, I therefore beg leave to request that Councils will appoint a Spe- cial Committee to audit my accounts for the last quar- ter, ending on the 31st of March, and for the two suc- ceeding quarters.
With much respect, your very ob't. servant. BRITAIN COOPER, Treasurer.
Mr. McCredy, presented the following petition, which was referred to the Committee on Rittenhouse Square. To the Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia.
The memorial of the subscribers respectfully repre- sents, That they are the owners and occupiers of pro- perty situated near the south west (or Rittenhouse) Square. The said Square has for many years been a place of deposit for the manure collected in the streets of the city. This manure is composed of the garbage and vegetable offal of the city, which when collected in heaps and exposed to the action of the warm rains and the sun's rays in summer, emits a most offensive, and as your memorialists believe,a very noxious effluvium, which operates on the health of the surrounding inhabitants greatly to their prejudice. As evidence of the truth of this remark, we state as a fact that no spot in or around the city has suffered more severely by fall and bilious fevers than the neighbourhood of this square: thus con- verting what was intended by the philanthropic founder of our city as the means of health and recreation, into a nursery of disease and death to the surrounding inha- bitants. Moreover, the public school of over one hun- dred children, the improvements now in progress in the neighbourhood of the square as, well as those in contem- plation so soon as they can be made in safety, and a hope of their being soon occupied, all call loudly for a change of deposit for the filth which has so long annoyed the surrounding poor industrious inhabitants. Your memo- rialists believe that a place might be procured at a trifling expense south of the city and quite as convenient, where the manure might be disposed of with equal advantage to the city.
For the foregoing reasons and many others which might be advanced, your memorialists request that another place of deposit for the said manure may be procured, and that Rittenhouse Square may be levelled and converted to the uses for which it was originally in- tended.
Mr. J. P. Wetherill as Chairman of the Watering Committee, offered the annexed report and resolution, which were adopted.
To the President and Members of the Select and Com- mon Councils.
Gentlemen-The Watering Committee respectfully report, that since submitting their annual statements to Councils, they have received petitions to have Iron pipes laid down in various parts of the city-the petitioners agreeing to take out permits for the water, as soon as pipes shall be furnished, and will pay a rent equal to the interest; and they further remark, the improvements of the petitioners, protection in case of fire, and the gene- ral comfort and convenience of the citizens, would seem to require a compliance with their desires. They have also been requested by the Commissioners of the district of Spring Garden, forthwith, to pave and curb Coates street from Fair Mount to the river Schuylkill. The committee submit the annexed resolution, authoriz- ing contracts to be made for pipes, &c. and for the pay- ment of the same.
Very respectfully,
JOHN P. WETHERILL, Chairman of the Watering Committee.
Resolved, That the Watering Committee be, and they are hereby authorised and requested forthwith, to con- tract for Iron Pipes, and for the paving and curbing of Coates street, in front of the city property, at Fair Mount, together, not to exceed in amount the sum of Fifteen Thousand dollars, and the Mayor is hereby au- thorised to draw his warrant on the City Treasurer, for the above amount, and charge the same to appropriation No. 16.
Mr. Massey, presented the following petition of Hazall Thomas, which was referred to the Commisioners of the Girard estate.
To the President and Members of the Select and Com- mon Councils of the City of Philadelphia.
The memorial of the subscriber, respectfully shew- eth, That Richard Sparks, by his will dated 14th Janua- ry, 1715-6, devised "100 feet of the back end of (his) lot on the south side of High street, in Philadelphia, for a burying place for the use of the people or society call- ed the Seventh-day Baptists." The lot thus devised is that which fronts on Fifth street between Market and Chesnut, immediately north of a house formerly the property of Mr. Girard, and now under his will belong- ing to the City of Philadelphia. The devise above re- cited went into effect: and burials took place in that ground. The Society referred to were incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in 1787, with power to take all lands therefore devised to their use. An ejectment was brought by the Society in the Supreme Court in the year 1803, (or thereabouts) against James Simmons who then owned the house above referred to, and under whose title has been devised to Mr. Girard. In this ejectment a verdict and judgment passed for the plaintiff: and Mr. Simmons subsequently occupied the lot permissively and as the agent of the society. Mr. Girard in his lifetime under some claim not understood by your memorialist, enclosed great part of this lot with a solid brick wall. The north end of it was then occu- pied, under the society, by a house or engine company -who subsequently removed their building. Mr. Gi- rard then took in that portion also, and enclosed it in like manner-and the Society are thus excluded.
Your memorialist now holds the legal title by a deed from the Society, and for the purpose of the original de- vise, and conceives the possession taken by Mr. Girard to be illegal. It is his duty to assert the rights of the Society: but believing that the City of Philadelphia will not persevere in the assertion of a wrong, (if they can be satisfied that it is so) respectfully invites the at- tention of the Councils to the subject of this memorial: prays them to cause their title to be investigated, and asks of them a surrender of the possession-or their con-
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PAXTON BOYS.
1833.]
currence in an effort to obtain an early legal adjudica- tion of the right.
All of which is respectfully submitted, by HAZAL THOMAS.
Mr. Lippincott, called up for consideration a resolu- tion of the Common Council, relative to the reorganiza- tion of the City Police, which was concurred in, and Messrs. Lippincott, Neff and Eyre, were appointed the committee.
COMMON COUNCIL .- Mr. Chandler offered a re- solution relative to the appointing of referees for set- tling the affairs of the Bank of the late Stephen Girard, which was adopted by the Common Council, but was referred to the committee of the whole in the Select Council.
Mr. Gilder offered the following resolution, which was adopted.
Resolved, That at their first sta'ed meeting in June next, Councils will elect a Superintendent of the build. ing of the Girard College for Orphans.
Mr. Lapsley called up for consideration the report and resolution of the committee on Markets, relating to a western market house, made the 8th of April last; and Mr. Merrick moved to postpone the resolution for the purpose of offering the following as a substitute, which was agreed to.
Resolved, That the Committee on Markets be in- structed to inquire and report on the expediency of purchasing a lot of ground suitable for a western market.
Mr. Huston offered the annexed resolution.
Resolved, That a committee of three members from each Council be appointed, to make arrangements for a proper expression of respect by the city authorities to the President of the United States, on his arrival in Phi- ladelphia-and tender to him the Hall of Independence, in which to receive his fellow citizens who may be desir- ous of waiting upon him during his continuance in this city :
When Mr. Joseph B. Smith moved to postpone the resolution until next October, which was lost; the reso- lution was adopted-and Messrs. Houston, R. Toland, Merrick, Worrell, Neff and Lippincott, were appointed the committee.
PAXTON BOYS. *
We are indebted to a correspondent for the following letter, which he says, he found " among some old fami- ly papers, and was written by one of his ancestors." It contains an amusing account of the excited feeling's of our citizens, in consequence of the serious affair, to which it alludes, and shows how readily, under such cir- cumstances, a whole community can be alarmed even by imaginary danger.
Many families are no doubt in possession of corres- pondence which details numerous incidents and facts, recorded in this familiar manner, at the time, and under the feelings of the moment, which, though they are not always to be relied upon, as furnishing the best evidence in all cases, are still the truest criterion of the belief, by which the conduct at the time is influenced. It is there- fore desirable to possess as much of this kind of testi- mony as possible, as it is generally entertaining, and of- ten throws light upon facts, which would otherwise ap- pear inexplicable-we would therefore repeat the re- quest frequently made, to be furnished with documents of this nature for the Register, which is, perhaps, the most appropriate depository for them, that can be adopted.
* See Vol. VI. pp. 297, 358. VII. p. 255 and IX pp. 114, 144. VOL. XII. 2
PHILADELPHIA, February 29th, 1764.
Old Friend,-When I last wrote, I did not intend to take up the pen again till I should hear from thee, but an event has happened of so extraordinary a nature, and which at present makes so great a noise here, that I thought a particular relation of it, might not be unac- ceptable. I am convinced you will have various accounts concerning the matter, some favourable to one side, and some to the other; therefore, I shall endeavour, as far as lies in my power, to give as exact a representation of the whole affair, as possible.
In my last, I informed thee, that a number of Indians had been brought down from the Moravian settlement upon our frontier, and placed by the Government upon the Province Island, where they were to remain till a peace could be effected with those Indians that were then at war with us, or till such time as we were able to subdue them; it is true some persons belonging to this tribe were suspected of being concerned in the murder of the inhabitants, but as no sufficient proof appeared, and as some of them were known to be well affected, and had done us confidential services, it was judged not only just, but likewise consistent with the maxims of prudence and good policy, to invite them down, and take them under our protection; esp cially as they had requested it, and voluntarily offered to deliver up their arms, as a security for their good behaviour, and a testi- mony of their having no ill intentions against us.
Besides this tribe, there was another, consisting of about twenty persons, men, women and children, who have lived for many years upon a small tract of land granted to them by the proprietors, in the manor of Conestogo. These poor natives, from their peaceable and quiet behaviour, (having never been concerned in any hostilities against us) were looked upon by the le- gislature as proper objects of their regard, and were accordingly taken under their protection as well as the others; but with this difference, that they were suffered to remain in their own habitations, where, as they were not allowed the liberty of hunting, they spent their time in making of baskets and brooms, which they sold to the white people for a subsistence.
Whilst these precautions were taking here, in order to prevent the innocent from falling with the guilty, Sir William Johnson was employed on the frontiers of New York, in conciliating the affections of the six nations, who for some unknown cause, appeared to be wavering with respect to the part they should act on the present occasion. It seems by the accounts we have received, that Sir William's negotiation was likely to be attended with all the success that could be wished, five of the confederated tribes seemed sincerely desirous of renew- ing their ancient friendship and part of the Senecas (the only tribe actually in arms) had been brought over by showing them how inconsistent their conduct was with the dictates of good policy, as the English were now possessed of almost all North America; these, together with others of different nations, engaged to pursuade or compel the remaining part to sue for peace. Indeed Indian affairs in general wore a favourable as- pect; our back settlements had not been disturbed, nor
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PAXTON BOYS.
[JULY
had any murders been committed from the month of October; all was calm and quiet, and the conversation of the people in general, began to turn upon other sub- jects-but in the month of January, part of the inhabi- tants of Paxton township, together with others from the west side of Susquehanna, who had lost, or pre- tended to have lost, some of their friends and relations by the Indians, took it into their heads (as they had been out upon several scouts, in which they had destroyed some wigwams, and a few acres of Indian corn without killing any enemies, ) that they would attack the Indians upon the manor of Conestogo; accordingly one morning about day break, they came upon this village, and with the most savage fury, destroyed every person in it. Luckily the greatest part of them happened to be abroad, and so soon as they heard of it, flew to the town of Lancaster, where they were received in the most friendly manner, consoled for their losses, and in order to secure them against any further danger, put into the work house. This being done, the Sheriff and several others were sent out to bury the dead, who, when they arrived at the place, found the bodies most shockingly mangled, and the houses burnt to the ground. The heroes who had performed this exploit immediately dis- persed themselves; part of them were met by Tommy Wright, who suspecting what they had been about, told them he had supposed they had just returned from kill- ing the Indians upon the manor? They replied, what if they had? Why, says he, if you have, you have done a very base action, for they were under the protection of the government. No government, answered they, has a right to protect heathen. Joshua was ordered to drive the heathen out of the land. Do you believe the scripture? if you do not, we have nothing to say to you, and so left him. I mention this short conversation to give thee an idea of the principles of those who were engaged in this holy war, and who were determin- ed to fulfil the command given to Joshua with the most scrupulous exactness.
Scarce had they time to give thanks for this signal victory, but down they came again in a considerable body, part of them, supposed to be about fifty, entered the town of Lancaster, well armed, rode up to Slough's tavern, turned their horses into the yard, asked where the Indians were, ran to the work house, demanded the keys of the keeper with threats, opened the door, and almost in an instant, shot and tomahawked every one of them. Neither the mother nor the tender infant that hung at the breast, was spared, though on her knees she begged for mercy, all where alike the objects of their ruthless vengeance, which being satisfied for the pre- sent, they returned to their horses and rode off.
Whether this butchery could have been prevented, I cannot take upon myself to determine. There was at the time a company of Highlanders in the town, and it is said, the officer who commanded them put himself in the way of the magistrates, in expectation of receiving orders for that purpose. On the other hand, they say, it was but twelve minutes from the time the Paxtoneers entered the town, till all was over, in which case, con. sidering the general consternation, it seemed too late to
make any oppos tion. Expresses, however, were dis- patched to this city, informing us of what had happened, and at the same time, letting us know that a large body of them intended to come down and destroy the Indians upon the Island. Many of the inhabitants were greatly alarmed at this intelligence, and orders were given to pro- vide a number of flats to be ready at the Island, to carry off theIndians into the Jerseys, in case any attempt of that sort should be made. A correspondence was also settled with several persons of note, in different parts of the province, who engaged to give the speediest notice of the motions of these "children of Promise or Saints Militant." In the mean time the Highlanders being ar- rived here on their way to New York, in order to em- bark for their native country, it was thought proper, in order to quiet the minds of the people, and to prevent the government from being insulted to send the Indians under their care to that city, from whence they were to proceed to Sir William Johnson, to be disposed of as he should judge most for the interest of the Colonies But, as the wisest men, and the greatest politicians, are somc- times liable to mistakes, it so happened, that no request was made to the Governor of York to grant them a pas- sage through his territories. Accordingly, when they came to Elizabethtown or Amboy, they received his or- ders to proceed no further, for that he would not receive them. Their directors were now at a loss what to do, to send them forward they could not, to bring them back was dangerous-in this state of suspense they re- mained not long, for General Gage interposed in their behalf, and ordered Captain Schlosser with upwards of a hundred Royal Americans to conduct the Indians back to Philadelphia, and guard them till the spring. The Captain accordingly brought them back again, and lodged them in the barracks, that they might be more immediately under the care of the soldiery, and more rea- dily assisted than they could possibly be if they were sent down to the Island.
Whilst they were upon their march through the Jer- seys, faction and clamour seemed to subside, but no sooner was it known that they were returned, than the spirit of discord began to operate afresh. At first, on- ly a little murmering was heard, then they began to threaten, so that it became dangerous for a person in any of the back counties to speak his mind with free- dom. Nay, so far did they proceed, that letters to and from this city to Lancaster, were obliged to be sent (it is said) unsubscribed, for a practice was made of open- ing them, and communicating their contents to the dis- affected. At last, on the fourth of this month, we re- ceived certain intelligence that a considerable body of them were coming down with arms to destroy every In- dian they could meet with. The Governor immediate- ly upon this, ordered the Sheriff and his officers to summon the inhabitants to meet in the afternoon at the State House. A vast concourse accordingly assembled, when it was proposed that they should enter into an association to defend the government, for it was imagin- ed that killing the Indians, was not the only motive of this hostile insurrection. Several persons entered their names directly, and notwithstanding it rained heavily,
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PAXTON BOYS.
1833.]
went and equipped themselves with the implements of. any judgment was to be formed from countenances and war, and marched up to the barracks, where they contin- behaviour, those who depended upon them for defence and protection, would have found their confidence shockingly misplaced. ued under arms with the soldiers all night. Our old friend, the Parson, and a few more belonging to the same pea- ceable society, were of the number. The Governor was also there with several other gentlemen.
In the morning the weather proving fair, (though ve- ry cold) a number of carpenters were hired, who, by Captain Schlosser's direction, built a redoubt, in the centre of the parade, at the barracks, and fortified the gateways with angles of thick plank, which had spaces left between for the soldiers to fire through. Several pieces of cannon were likewise hauled up and the best preparations were made that the time would admit of.
Notwithstanding these warlike measures, the govern- ment was still unwilling to proceed to extremity. They thought it best to try the milder methods of pursuasion first, and therefore sent the Reverend G-t T-t with two or three more pious divines of the same order, to convince them if possible, by the force of reason and argument, or by the apposition of texts of scripture,that they were in error, and to prevail upon them to return home. Perhaps some people may be inclined to cen- sure this step, when they consider that a proclamation had been published, offering a reward of two hundred pounds for apprehending any of the parties concerned in the murder of the Indians at Lancaster, and that the riot act had been extended to this province a few days before.
The day passing over, and no enemy appearing, nor any intelligence of their motions, we began to hope that the rumor was without foundation. For my own part I went to bed as free from any apprehensions of danger as ever I did in my life, and slept very soundly till after midnight, when all of a sudden I was alarmed by the ringing of the bells. I listened to know the cause, (being loath to get out of bed as I had a bad cold) ex- pecting fit was fire, but no cry, no rattling of engines was to be heard ; I then laid myself down with a resolution to go to sleep again, when one of the neighbours thun- dered at the door, and called to us to put out the lights for the Paxton Boys were coming. Up I jumped im- mediately, whipped on my clothes, and ran to the door, which I had no sooner opened, than I heard the old militia drums with solemn dubb beating to arms, and saw the inhabitants running from all quarters to obey the summons. By sunrise they had got themselves offi- cers, and brought forth those ensigns which were once displayed with such terror in the glorious battle of the New Market. The remains of the old artillery compa- ny were likewise mustered, and two pieces of cannon brought out of the magazine and stationed before the court house. All business was now suspended, the shops and stores were close shut, and every person seemed anxious to know what would be the issue of all this tumult.
The number of persons in arms that morning was about six hundred, and as it was expected the insur- gents would attempt to cross at the middle or upper ferry, orders were sent to bring the boats to this side, and to take away the ropes. Couriers were now seen continually coming in, their horses all of a foam, and people running with the greatest eagerness to ask them where the enemy were, and what were their numbers. The answers to these questions were various, sometimes they were at a distance, then near at hand-sometimes they were a thousand strong, then five hundred, then fifteen hundred ; in short, all was doubt and uncer- tainty.
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