Page View
Jensen, Merrill; Kaminski, John P.; Saladino, Gaspare J. (ed.) / Ratification of the Constitution by the states: Pennsylvania
(1976)
B. The Carlisle Riot and its aftermath, 26 December 1787-20 March 1788, pp. 670-708
Page 706
IV. AFTERMATH OF RATIFICATION a rumor circulated in Philadelphia that 5,000 men were moving toward the town from every direction (Mfm:Pa. 479). 5. Others also blamed Philadelphia Antifederalist leaders for the march on Carlisle. For instance, John Vaughan declared that "The pupils of our nveterate town [Philadelphia] leaders and teachers have shown themselves at Carlisle" (to John Dickinson, Philadelphia, 9 March, RC, Dickinson Papers, PPL). John Shippen to Joseph Shippen, Carlisle, 3 March' I know not how to introduce the present subject, nor, incLeed, do I think it is in the power of words to express fully the transactions of the people of Cumberland. However difficult it may be, I shall attempt it, hoping to give you the outlines, after a fashion, that you may complete the picture and have some small idea of their conduct. It will not seem a credible story to people who are unacquainted with the inhabitants of the county, but when attested by the hand and name of your son, you can have no doubt of the truth of it. I presume papa remembers the contents of a Carlisle Gazett, which I sent him, with respect to the riot of December.2 The sherifE of this county [Charles Leeper], receiving warrants (state) from tLe Chief Justice, [Thomas] McKean, against twenty-one rioters, took said per- sons before Mr. [John] Agnew and Mr. [Samuel] Erwin (justices), who being in some doubt with respect to the warrants, offered them a privilege to remain on parole a month, viz., to the 25th of March, till they should have opportunity to consult the Chief Justice. The twenty-one taking into consideration the above offer, seventen [sev- en] of them insisted upon a trial, refused to give bail, though they might have obtained it, and declared they would rather go. to jail than accept of a parole, as others did in the same situation. They were accordingly committed. The report of their imprisonmnt hav- ing spread through the country, Mr. Agnew and Mr. Erwin thought it expedient to publish in the paper the above account, which by the country people was thought to be a lie, as well as the procession in the town of Boston. I may here remark that whatever account favor- able to the Federalists appears in the paper, it is esteemed as a lie and a falsehood by the adverse party-I mean the Antifederalists. Of the conduct of the latter I mean now to treat. On Saturday [1 March], by daylight, a company from the lower settlement entered the town singing "Federal Joy" (a song composed by one of their party and published in the newspapers),3 took posses- sion of the courthouse, and rung the bell all the morning. (1E should have mentioned, they were armed.) Several other companies came in from different parts of the country, the last of which about ten o'clock. 706
Copyright 1976 Wisconsin Historical Society Press.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright