The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-22
From The Boston Transcript.
William Penn-No. a.

.
theless, have derived, from his origin, and from
his Dutch mother, Margaret Jasper, of Rotterdam,
certain quality, eminently characteristic of the
Quaker, that resolute determination which the
coarser man of the world calls pluck and the Qua
ker constancy.
The constancy OF purpose in William Penn seems
never to have been shaken. 1t appeared in his re-
fusa to dotf his brm before his father the Duke of
York, apd the king. II manifested when, be-
ing imprisoned in the tower for printing his Sandy
foundation Shaken and hearing that the Bishop of
London had declared the offender should publicly
recant or remain there fore life, he replied, she ,ood
iceary oa The malice Of his enemies by his patience,
and that his prison should be his grace before he icoud
reOnce has just opinions, for he 0iced his conscience
TO man"
This same constancy was signally exhibited
during the disputation between himself and George
Whitehead for the Quakers, and Thomas Vincent
and others for the Presbyterians. Vincent had a
parish in Spial Fields Two OF his parishoners
went to listen, perhaps to laugh at the Quakers.
Like Goldsmiths scoffers, who came to laugh, and
remained to pray, they went In Freshly terians, and
came out Quakers. They were converted. AT
this, Vincent lost his patience, and to have
become IA prosecutor of the cursed Qtakers; and, as
Clarkson states, said all manner of "unha,adsone'
things of them and their ddmnabie doctrines. Penn
and Whitehead invited Vincent to public discus
sion. After much delay and evasion, Vincent con-
sented AS every fowl is bravcst on his steri-
cOritm, Vincent selected his own Presbyterian
meeting house the place for the discussion; and,
before the appointed hour, filled it with his own
people so completely that the dsputants themselves,
Penn and Whitehead, could scarcely gain admit
lance. They were instantly insulted, by charge
suddenly made that the Quakers held ''damadbie
doctrines Whitehead began areply; Vincent in
terrupcd him, and proposed, as the proper course,
that he should put questions to the Quakers. He
put the motion, and, as almost all present were Of
his party, twas agreed to, of course. He then put
a question concerning the Godhead, which he knew
the Quakers would answer in the negative. White
head and Penn attempted to explain. Several rose
on the other side Whitehead desired to put a
question to Vincent. This the Presbyterians re-
fused They proceeded to laugh, hiss and stigma
tie. Penn they called Jesuit. Upon answer
from Whitehead to question from Vincent, uproar
ensued, and Vincent event instantly TO prayer
that the Lord would come short with heretics and
basphcmers
When he had by this maneuvre, discharged his
battery upon the Quaker5 effectually securing him
self from interuption-for no one would presume
to interrupt minister at praycr-he cut off all
power of reply, by telling the people to go home
Immediately, at the same moment setting them the
example
1t is impossible read the account of this discus
si0n without some little mental reference to certain
modern discussions the subject of dissovng the
Union, during which the advocates of the largest
possible liberty have had the assistance of Miss Abby
Folsom.
The closing part, which especially exhibits that
remarkable, cannot be more happily related than
in the language of Mr.. Clarkson himself
''The congregation was leaving the meeting
house, and they had not yet been heard Finding
they would soon be left TO themselves, some OF them
at length ventured to speak; but they were pulled
down, and the candles-for the controversy had
lasted till nlidnigh put out. They were not,
however, prevented by this usage from going on;
for rising up, they continued their defence in the
dark; and, what was extraordinary, many stayed to
hear it, This brought Vincent among them with
candle Addressing himself TO the Quakers, he de-
sired them disperse To this, at length, they con-
scented, but only the promise that another meet
ing should be granted them for the same purpose,
in the same place"
Vincent did not keep his promise He was,
doubtless, fearful that more of his parishioners
would be converted Penn and Whitehead, at
last, went to Vincents meeting house, on lecture
day; and, when the lecture was finished, rose and
begged audience; but Vincent went off as fast
as possible, and the congregation speedily fol
lowed. Finding no other mode before him, Penn
wrote and published his celebrated Sandy Fovi-
dafion Shaken, which caused his imprisonment in
the tower, as already related.
Another remarkable example of the constancy
of Penn recorded in the history of his trial before
the lord mayor for breach of the convertible act,
in 1910. Mr. Macaulay is pleased TO say Penn had
never been "a strong headed man." Tins Is one oil
those sliding phrases, that may mean any thlng or
nothing. IL may mean, that, not being strong
headed man. he necessarily belonged TO the other
category, and was freak headed man. Or IT may
mean that he was not as strong neaded as Doru
veruam or Mr.. Macaulay. | wish the reader
would decide this question FOR HIMSELF and for that
end read the history OF this interesting trial, as
given by Carkson, in the first volume sixth chap
Ter of his memoirs OF Penn. If the evidences OF a
strong head and strong heart were not album
dainty exhibited by the accused, upon that occa-
sion, know not where to look for them.
The jury returned verdict of guilty Of speaking
in Grace street church Sir Samuel Starting, the
mayor, and the whole court abused the jurors after
the example of Jcffreys, and sent them back TO
their room. After half an hour they returned the
verdict in writing, signed with their names
The court were more cnraged than before, and Mr..
Clarkson says the recorder addressed him thus
''You shall not be dismissed till have verdict
such IA the court will accept; and you shall be
locked up without meat drink, fire, and tobacco;
you shall not think thus 20 abuse the court we VIII
have verdict by the help of God, or you shall
starve for it." After being out all night, the jury
returned the same verdict for the third time. They
were severely abused by the court after the fashion
of that day, and sent To their room once more. A
fourth time they returned the same verdict, Penn
addressed the jury, and the court ordered the ailer
20 stop his mouth and bring letters, and stake him
10 the ground. Friend William for an instant
merged the Quaker i'm the Englishman, and ex-
claimed: "Do your pleasure, matter not your
letters"
On the 5th Of scptemb r, the jury, who had re-
cevcd no refrcshmcnt for two days and two nights,
returned verdict Of not gully. Such was the
condition Of things at that day that for the rend-
ton Of that verdict, the jury fined forty marks
apiece, and imprisoned In Newgate. Penn was, at
this time, five and twenty years Of age.
The peculiar position Of William Penn at the
court OF Charles and James II. may be explained
without laying at his door the nputation Of being
a time-scrvcr and a man Of the world. Between
the latter monarch and the Quaker there existed a
relation akin TO friendship. Penn, in keeping with
his Quaker principles, was forgetful of injuries and
mindful Of benefits. II is impossible 10 say how
long he would have remained in the tower, when
imprisoned there through the agency of the Bishop
Of London, had he not been released upon the un-
solicited importantly Of James II. when Duke OF
York when the admiral, his father, was near his
end he sent ono of his friends" says Mr.. Clark
son, 10 the Duke Of York 10 desire of him, as a
death bed request that he would endcavor 10 pro
tcct his son. as far he consistently could, and 10
ask the king do the same in case Of future perse-
cuton. The answer was grstfying-both OF them
promising their services upon ht OCCASION
Perhaps II would not be going too far-with Mr..
Macaulay's permission, of course-to ascribe that
personal consideration which Penn exhibited for
Charles and Jamcs-a part OF IL, at least-to a
grateful recollection Of their vors TO his father and
himself
"Tfnes and phrases, ," says Mr.. Macaulay. "against
,pich he had offen borne ms testimony, dropped occd-