the quaker colonies-第15部分
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ercy unto them。〃 The Scripture had not been obeyed； the heathen had not been destroyed； on the contrary； a systematic policy of covenants； treaties； and kindness had been persisted in for two generations； and as a consequence； the Ulstermen said； the frontiers were now deluged in blood。 They were particularly resentful against the small settlement of Indians near Bethlehem； who had been converted to Christianity by the Moravians； and another little village of half civilized basketmaking Indians at Conestoga near Lancaster。 The Scotch…Irish had worked themselves up into a strange belief that these small remnants were sending information； arms； and ammunition to the western tribes； and they seemed to think that it was more important to exterminate these little communities than to go with such expeditions as Bouquet's to the West。 They asked the Governor to remove these civilized Indians and assured him that their removal would secure the safety of the frontier。 When the Governor； not being able to find anything against the Indians； declined to remove them； the Scotch…Irish determined to attend to the matter in their own fashion。
Bouquet's victory at Bushy Run； much to the surprise of the Scotch…Irish； stopped Indian raids of any seriousness until the following spring。 But in the autumn there were a few depredations； which led the frontiersmen to believe that the whole invasion would begin again。 A party of them； therefore； started to attack the Moravian Indians near Bethlehem； but before they could accomplish their object； the Governor brought most of the Indians down to Philadelphia for protection。 Even there they were narrowly saved from the mob； for the hostility against them was spreading throughout the province。
Soon afterwards another party of Scotch…Irish； ever since known as the 〃Paxton Boys；〃 went at break of day to the village of the Conestoga Indians and found only six of them at homethree men； two women； and a boy。 These they instantly shot down； mutilated their bodies； and burned their cabins。 As the murderers returned； they related to a man on the road what they had done； and when he protested against the cruelty of the deed； they asked； 〃Don't you believe in God and the Bible？〃 The remaining fourteen inhabitants of the village； who were away selling brooms； were collected by the sheriff and put in the jail at Lancaster for protection。 The Paxtons heard of it and in a few days stormed the jail； broke down the doors； and either shot the poor Indians or cut them to pieces with hatchets。
This was probably the first instance of lynch law in America。 It raised a storm of indignation and controversy； and a pamphlet war persisted for several years。 The whole province was immediately divided into two parties。 On one side were the Quakers； most of the Germans； and conservatives of every sort； and on the other； inclined to sympathize with the Scotch…Irish； were the eastern Presbyterians； some of the Churchmen； and various miscellaneous people whose vindictiveness towards all Indians had been aroused by the war。 The Quakers and conservatives； who seem to have been the more numerous； assailed the Scotch…Irish in no measured language as a gang of ruffians without respect for law or order who； though always crying for protection； had refused to march with Bouquet to save Fort Pitt or to furnish him the slightest assistance。 Instead of going westward where the danger was and something might be accomplished； they had turned eastward among the settlements and murdered a few poor defenseless people； mostly women and children。
Franklin； who had now returned from England； wrote one of his best pamphlets against the Paxtons； the valorous； heroic Paxtons； as he called them； prating of God and the Bible； fifty…seven of whom； armed with rifles； knives； and hatchets； had actually succeeded in killing three old men； two women； and a boy。 This pamphlet became known as the 〃Narrative〃 from the first word of its title； and it had an immense circulation。 Like everything Franklin wrote； it is interesting reading to this day。
One of the first effects of this controversy was to drive the excitable Scotch…Irish into a flame of insurrection not unlike the Whisky Rebellion； which started among them some years after the Revolution。 They held tumultuous meetings denouncing the Quakers and the whole proprietary government in Philadelphia； and they organized an expedition which included some delegates to suggest reforms。 For the most part； however； it was a well equipped little army variously estimated at from five hundred to fifteen hundred on foot and on horseback； which marched towards Philadelphia with no uncertain purpose。 They openly declared that they intended to capture the town； seize the Moravian Indians protected there； and put them to death。 They fully expected to be supported by most of the people and to have everything their own way。 As they passed along the roads； they amused themselves in their rough fashion by shooting chickens and pigs； frightening people by thrusting their rifles into windows； and occasionally throwing some one down and pretending to scalp him。
In the city there was great excitement and alarm。 Even the classes who sympathized with the Scotch…Irish did not altogether relish having their property burned or destroyed。 Great preparations were made to meet the expedition。 British regulars were summoned。 Eight companies of militia and a battery of artillery were hastily formed。 Franklin became a military man once more and superintended the preparations。 On all sides the Quakers were enlisting； they had become accustomed to war； and this legitimate chance to shoot a Scotch…Irish Presbyterian was too much for the strongest scruples of their religion。 It was a long time； however； before they heard the end of this zeal； and in the pamphlet war which followed they were accused of clamorously rushing to arms and demanding to be led against the enemy。
It is amusing now to read about it in the old records。 But it was serious enough at the time。 When the Scotch…Irish army reached the Schuylkill River and found the fords leading to the city guarded； they were not quite so enthusiastic about killing Quakers and Indians。 They went up the river some fifteen miles； crossed by an unopposed ford； and halted in Germantown ten miles north of Philadelphia。 That was as far as they thought it safe to venture。 Several days passed； during which the city people continued their preparations and expected every night to be attacked。 There were； indeed； several false alarms。 Whenever the alarm was sounded at night； every one placed candles in his windows to light up the streets。 One night when it rained the soldiers were allowed to shelter themselves in a Quaker meeting house； which for some hours bristled with bayonets and swords； an incident of which the Presbyterian pamphleteers afterwards made much use for satire。 On another day all the cannon were fired to let the enemy know what was in store for him。
Finally commissioners with the clever； genial Franklin at their head； went out to Germantown to negotiate； and soon had the whole mighty difference composed。 The Scotch…Irish stated their grievances。 The Moravian Indians ought not to be protected by the government； and all such Indians should be removed from the colony； the men who killed the Conestoga Indians should be tried where the supposed offense was committed and not in Philadelphia； the five frontier counties had only ten representatives in the Assembly while the three others had twenty…sixthis should be remedied； men wounded in border war should be cared for at public expense； no trade should be carried on with hostile Indians until they restored prisoners； and there should be a bounty on scalps。
While these negotiations were proceeding； some of the Scotch…Irish amused themselves by practicing with their rifles at the weather vane； a figure of a cock； on the steeple of the old Lutheran church in Germantownan unimportant incident； it is true； but one revealing the conditions and character of the time as much as graver matters do。 The old weather vane with the bullet marks upon it is still preserved。 About thirty of these same riflemen were invited to Philadelphia and were allowed to wander about and see the sights of the town。 The rest returned to the frontier。 As for their list of grievances； not one of them was granted except； strange and sad to relate； the one which asked for a scalp bounty。 The Governor； after the manner of other colonies； it must be admitted； issued the long desired scalp proclamation； which after offering rewards for prisoners and scalps； closed by saying； 〃and for the scalp of a female Indian fifty pieces of eight。〃 William Penn's Indian policy had been admired for its justice and humanity by all the philosophers and statesmen of the world； and now his grandson； Governor of the province； in the last days of the family's control； was offering bounties for women's scalps。
Franklin while in England had succeeded in having the proprietary lands taxed equally with the lands of the colonists。 But the proprietors attempted to construe this provision so that their best lands were taxed at the rate paid by the people on their worst。 This obvious quibble of cou
