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I. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION
bring the Paxton boys upon you?3 The seeds of Confusion were sown
sometime ago, and now they begin to spring. Our best regards and
wishes attend you and Mrs Penn and I am dear Sir yr affte friend &
hble Sert
1. FC, Tilghman Papers, MS 2821, MdHi. Docketed: "Copy." Penn (1729-1795), a
grandson of proprietor William Penn, was proprietary lieutenant governor of Pennsyl-
vania and the Lower Counties (Delaware), 1763-71, 1773-76. The Revolutionary War
ended his tenure in office and for a time the patriot government of Pennsylvania placed
him on parole. Since Penn was moderate in his criticism of the patriot government, he
eventually was able to keep most of his extensive Pennsylvania land holdings.
2. For the Federalists use of force to obtain a quorum in the Pennsylvania Assembly
in order to adopt resolutions calling a state convention to consider the Constitution, see
RCS:Pa., 95-126, and CC:125 A-B.
3. The "Paxton Boys" were Scotch-Irish settlers living in western Pennsylvania who
had grievances against the proprietary government for failing to protect them from the
Indians. In January 1764 about 250 of the "Paxton Boys" marched on Philadelphia to
present their grievances. They were met in Germantown by Benjamin Franklin who prom-
ised them that the colonial assembly would address their grievances. The "Paxton Boys"
then returned home.
Caution
Maryland Journal, 12 October 17871
To the INHABITANTS of BALTIMORE TOWN.
An attempt to surprise you into any public measure, ought to meet
your indignation and contempt. When violence or cunning is substi-
tuted for argument and reason, suspicion should take the alarm, and
prudence should dictate the propriety of deliberation. Questions of
consequence in private life, ought not to be hastily decided, and with
greater reason, determinations, that involve the future felicity of a whole
people, ought not to be taken before the most mature and deliberate
consideration, and a free and full examination of the subject, and all
its consequences.-These reflections occurred on being informed that
some gentlemen of this Town, employ themselves in carrying about
and soliciting subscribers to a petition, addressed to the General As-
sembly, requesting them to call a Convention to ratify the new system
of government, proposed for the United States, by the late Convention
at Philadelphia. If this petition contained no more, it would not have
been worthy of notice; but it publishes to the world your entire appro-
bation of the New Federal Government, and your desire that it should
be adopted and confirmed by this State, as it stands, without any amend-
ment or alteration. The ostensible cause for offering you the petition to
sign is, that you may express your sentiments to the legislature, that
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