The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-12

OF pennsylvania against INC dsPerslons Oh
Mr.. MAoAULAY. 1t forms part of an
admirable series of papers entitled Deal
ingS with The Dead As the subject is
one of more than ordinary interest, and
the author of established reputation and
great power and skill in controversy, we
shall transfer these papers, as they appear,
to our columns. The first number we
publish below:
William Penn-No. 4.
If the materials, of which history and biography
are made up-the sources of informaton-were
accessible to every reader, and the patience and
ability We're his, to examine for himself, there IS,
probably, no historian nor biographer, in whose
accuracy and impartiality his confidence would
not be occasionally weakened. The statement or
assertion, the authority for which lies scattered
among the pages of fifty different writers, perhaps,
and which the historian has compressed within ten
short lines, would, now and then, be found unc
tured, and its true complexion materially altered,
by the religious or political coloring OF the writer's
mind
The entire history Of one more ages has been
written to support particular code of religious or
political tenets The prejudices OF an annast have,
occasionally, from long indulgence, become so
habitual that his offences, in this WISE become al
II is very probable that the devoted followers
the wholesale admirers-of William Penn, who
D
and their constructions of his conduct, to the world
from time to time have been led into some little
oesses by the force of habtua idolatry On the
other hand, few readers believe, have failed to be
surprised by some of the statements and opinions
in regard to Penn which are presented on the pages
of Mr. Macaulay' IS history of England.
In my last number, alluded to the persecution
Of the Quakersin Massachusetts. II is my purpose
to say something more of these 'cursed' Quakers,
and particularly Of William Penn. My remarks
may extend over several consecutive numbers OF
these Dealings with the Dead; and tlatter myself
that, from the nature of the subject, they will not
be wholly uninteresting to the reader
have always cherished feeling of regard and
respect for these ''cmsed" Quakers, originating in
early impressions, and increased by some personal
intercourse with certain members of the Society of
Friends.
1t appears, by the Salem records, that John Kit
chen was fined thirty pence for unworthy and
malignant carriages and speeches in open court,
September 25, 1862 was very much chagrined
when first glanced at this record, for he was my
great great great grandfather by the mother side,
and grandfather of the Hon. Col John Turner, of
Salem, who commanded at the battle of Haverhill
Great was my satisfaction when l discovered that
John Kitchens crime neither more nor less
than absolute refusal to take off his hat IN pres
of the magistrate. For the luxury of keeping
il on and absentng themselves from the ordinances,
he appears to have paid f4o sterling, in fines, for
himself and Elizabeth, his wife. The "cused'
Quakers appear to have had hard time Of it about
the middle of the seventeenth century. Felt tells
u.s. in his annals, p. 204, that Robinson and Steven
son were hung in 1859, for returning from Danish
ment; and, page 2O6, that Mary Dyer, of the
Friends, was hung June l, 1860.
The deposition of John Ward and Thomas Me-
kens is still of record taken in that very month
and year, showing that they saw Mrs Kitchen
pulled off her horse, and heard one Batter tell her
she was ga base quaking slut" and had been ga
yotpOtoing'
Now, John Kitchen good Quaker, doubt
less, far regarded the essential qualification
of obstnatey wearing his hat and refusing to take
oath. But he was made of flesh and blood, like
all other Quakers; and this outrage, in pulling my
gr CIR or grandmother down from her horse
more than flesh and blood could bear copy of
the deposition of Giles Corey is now before me,
showing that John, upon other occasions, was not
so pacific as he might have been; and that, upon
occasion, she struck up Mr.. Ed,card Norris his
heels-and, upon another, he beat Giles Corey him
self 'tW he toas all body" He seems to have been
moved by the spirit to thrash them both. / take
this Giles Corey to be the man, the father of the
man, who, as Felt says, p. 305, was pressed to
death in Salem for standing mute during the witch
mania Sept. l9, 1862.
William Penn was for many years engaged in
controversy, chiefly in defence of the peculiar reli
gious opinions of the Quakers. Wood, in his Athe-
nae Oxonienses w., p CAT, Lond., 1920, gives the
titles of ffty-two tracts and pamphlets published
by Penn between 1865 and 1890. In the heat Of
controversy his character rudely assailed, and
his conduct grossly misrepresented The familiar
relation subsisting between him and James III.
gave color with some persons TO the report that
Penn, at heart, was Papist and Jesuit These
groundless imputations have long ago been swal-
lowed up in their own absurdity. So strong, how
ever was the hold which these ridiculous fancies
had taken of the public mind, that, after the
luton of 1858, he examined before the council,
and obliged to give bond for his appearance from
time TO time; till at last he obtained hearing be-
fore King William, and effectualy established his
innocence.
Among the few men of elevated standing who
gave, pretended to give, credit TO the rumor that
Penn was Papst, Burnet appears in the foremost
,,f
might be expected TO speak of William Penn as
Penn the Quaker" The appearance Of Penn at
the court of the Prince of Orange could, on no ac-
count, have been agreeable TO a bishop, and, least
Of all bishops, 10 Burnet, who in the new conner
the confidential agent of his bitterest enemy King
James the Second; and who might, on other scores,
have been jealous of the influence even OF Penn the
Quaker Burnet's words thcsc-vol H., p.
3ls, Lond., 1878 " Many suspected that he was
concealed Papist; il is certain he was much with
Father Peter, and particularly trusted by the
Earl OF Sunderland" On the preceding page Bur
net thus describes the Quaker " He was talking,
vain man, who had been long in the kings favor,
he being the vice dmiral's son. He had such an
opinion OF his own faculty Of per,uadlng, that he
thought none could stand before IL, though he was
singular in that opinion for he had tedious, lus-
cious way, that was not apt TO overcome a mans
reason, though IL might tire his patience" IL Is
impossible not TO perceive in this description some
touches which, historians have told US, were singu-
lary applicable 10 Burnet himself
William, who perfectly Compounded The char
actcrs of Halifax and Bunet, perceived the propre
~ Of keeping them apart, when the former came to
Hungerford a commissioner from the king, De
cember =, 1858 How far Judge rightly ia apply
ing part Of Burnets description Of Penn 10 Bur
net himself, may appear in the following passage
from Macaulay, vol H., p 53s Almost all those
who were admitted 10 his (Willam's) confidence,
were men taciturn and impcnetrablc as himself.
Burnet was the only exception. lie notorious
ly garrulous and indiscreet. Yet circumstances
had made II necessary 10 trust him and he would
doubtless, under the dcxtcrous management Of
Halifax. have poured out secrets fast as words.
William knew this well; and, when he in
formed that Halifax asking for the doctor,
could not refrain from cxclaiming, " they get TO-
getber there iciH be- fine tattiing Z"
Mr.. Macaulay remarks, that" To speak hs
ichole truth concerning Penn Is task tchich requires
courage" He then, vol. L., page sos, delivers
himself as follows "Thc integrity Of Penn had
stood firm against obloquy and persecution. But
now, attacked by royal wiles, by female bandish
ments, by the nsinuating oloquence and delicate
hattery Of veteran diplomatists and courticrs, his
resolution began Go give way. Titles and phrases,
against which he had often borne his testimony,
dropped occasionally from his lips and his pen IL