Upload
estate-four-publishers
View
69
Download
5
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Title Pages, Table of Contents, Chronology of Key Events, Abbreviations
Citation preview
BEN PONDER
From Common Sense to the Declaration
Ponder
IndependenceAMERICAN
AMERICANINDEPENDENCE
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
From Common Sense to the Declaration
BENJAMIN PONDER
ESTATE FOUR PUBLISHERS ESTATEFOUR.COM
© 2010 by Benjamin Ponder All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Visit our Web site: www.estatefour.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-0-615-35182-7
FOR AMY, my beloved
Acknowledgments
he shortcomings of this book are of my own manufacture, but I cannot saythe same of the study’s strong suits. The robust support of the following
individuals and organizations was instrumental to the development of this work: David Zarefsky, Timothy Breen, Betsy Erkkila, Robert Hariman, Luke andEmily Anderson, John and Dana Kim, Dave and Rachel Hansen, Joe and KariLamancusa, Tom and Shana Christian, Dan and Barb Beitz, Tom and Jennifer Noble, David and Nary Houcque, Ken and Tammy Shull, Lee Huebner, IrvRein, Dilip Gaonkar, Keith Topper, Angela Ray, the late Scott Deatherage, Tom Goodnight, the late Mike Leff, John Kirby, the late Tom Farrell, Tom Frentz and the late Janice Rushing, David Davidson, Andy Wehrman, JamesColtrain, David Keenan, Vicki Brantly, Susan Bergman, Eugene Peterson, PaulStevens, Elton Conrady, Kerim Zagra, David Wei, Andrew Wachtel, SimonGreenwold, Jenny Mann, Guy Ortolano, Rana Ozbal, John Pham, Kwame Onoma, Sean Murphy, Chris Campbell, Alan Brothers, Rhiannon Stephens,Kristen Syrett, Carmen Niekrasz, Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Ben Chen, YaëlKatz, Tomasz Strzalecki, Tobin Miller-Shearer, Lee Seymour, Dan Fitzmeier,Chris Lundberg, Brett Ommen, Randy Iden, Leslie Harris, Ebony Utley, LizBenacka, Karin Lehnardt, Cindy Koenig, Karen Kelly, Rita Lutz, Mary PatDoyle, Maggie Wildman, Pat Mann, Lesley Perry, James Ettema, Peter Miller,Henry Bienen, the Library Company of Philadelphia (especially Jim Green,Connie King, and Phil Lapsansky), the American Philosophical Society (espe-cially Roy Goodman and J.J. Ahern), the Clements Library at the University ofMichigan (especially Don Wilcox and Barbara DeWolfe), the University ofPennsylvania Archives (especially Director Mark F. Lloyd), the Northwestern University Library (especially Special Collections Librarian Scott Krafft, Spe-cial Collections Curator Russell Maylone, and Librarian Ronald Sims of theGalter Health Sciences Library), and the Fort Dearborn Chapter of theDaughters of the American Revolution. And, finally, I offer my deepest gratitude to my family: To my parents, Danny and Nell Ponder, and my parents-in-law, Robert and Adele Berry, for their boundless support, love, and understanding. To my children, Ava, Elise, Lincoln, and Whit, who have placed my work andresearch in perspective time and time again. They bring unspeakable joy totheir daddy’s heart. To my dearest Amy, who has endured much and has walked with me every stepof this long journey. I marvel at you, value you above all others, and love youwith my whole heart.
T
Table of Contents A Chronology of Key Events xv
Abbreviations xxiii
Preface: From Reconciliation to Revolution xxv The Difference of One Year Aims of the Study Theoretical Influences and the Trajectory of Method The Difference of Six Months
Chapter One: Natural Republicanism
PART ONE: TAXATION AND PROTEST 2 Stamped Out
Distant Dissent
PART TWO: FROM LONDON TO LEXINGTON 5 Transatlantic Connection The Evolution of a Revolutionary
PART THREE: PAMPHLET CULTURE 8 The Distinctive Literature of the Revolution
The Distinctive Rhetoric of the Revolution
PART FOUR: THE PROBLEM WITH MONOREPUBLICANISM 13
Republicanism in 1776 The Least Worst Option Two Party System American Republicanisms
PART FIVE: THE LOCKEAN MOMENT 20
An Independent Whig An Appeal to Heaven The United States of Nature and War
PART SIX: UNTANGLING THE ROOTS OF RADICALISM 25 Radical Whigs Orthodox Radicalism
Table of Contents viii
PART SEVEN: TOWARDS A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY 28 Natural Representation Revolution in Style
Chapter Two: Kindling Controversy
PART ONE: A CATALYTIC COMPOSITION 37
A Desperate Shortage Notes on the State of America Present Transactions
PART TWO: PAPER AND INK 44 To the Press
Media Res Publica Provincial Printing The Political Role of Print Culture
PART THREE: A PROMOTER OF PRINT 50 Robert Bell, Bookseller Manufacture of Opinion A Material Scarcity Liberty of the Press The Reading Publics
PART FOUR: THE PUBLISHING SCANDAL 60 The Price of Success Cause Célèbre Ink Wrestling A Matter of Shillings and Pence
PART FIVE: PROVEDORES 69 Sentimental Reason
Chapter Three: Reformation and Regicide
PART ONE: UNIVERSAL REFORMATION 79 Royal Culture
A Protestant Revolution Reason and Demystification
PART TWO: POPERY OF GOVERNMENT 85
Judging Monarchy The Pope of England
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE ix
PART THREE: PREACHING INDEPENDENCE 88
Scriptural Resemblance Colonial Unison Political Conversion
PART FOUR: HERETICAL QUAKERS 95
The “Epistle” and Religious Toryism
PART FIVE: THE PERSISTENT WILKES & UNANSWERED PRAYERS Junius, Wilkes, and Liberty 99
Wilkes Weary Political Supplications Petition and Proclamation
PART SIX: DETHRONING THE SOVEREIGN 109 Royal Character
The Speech of Separation Heredity and the Hessians Signing the Petition of Independence King of America Felling Monarchy
Chapter Four: Mechanics of a Revolution
PART ONE: NATURAL PHILOSOPHY 127
Rational Mechanics Useful Knowledge Transit of Venus and Scientific Culture
PART TWO: A SCIENTIFIC TREATISE 132
Paine’s First Audience The Franklin Factor Paine and Science Baconian Induction and Newtonian Mechanics
PART THREE: LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS 141
Secondary Education Popular Newtonianism in England Machinery, Causation, and Motion The Radical Implications of Popular Science
PART FOUR: EXPERIMENTAL PROSODY 156 Scientific Language
Rhetorical Poetry Solving for Time
Table of Contents x
Chapter Five: Time and the Decision for Independence
PART ONE: THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF TIME 171
An American Newton A Rural Mechanic Causality and Temporality
PART TWO: CHRONOS 180 Clock Time and the Potts-Pryor Astronomical Clock
Dismantling and Reconstructing Time History and Expediency
PART THREE: KAIROS 187 Seasonal Time and Father Abraham’s Almanac
Open Season Popular History
PART FOUR: EPOS 197
Epic Time and the Norriton Observation of the Transit of Venus Lenses and Mirrors The Experience of Textual Time
PART FIVE: KRISIS 209
Crisis Time and the Rittenhouse Orrery Space and Time Machine Textual Orrery Declaring Crisis
PART SIX: THE TIME IS NOW 222 No Time Like the Present
Temporal Virtue
Chapter Six: Declaration of Independents
PART ONE: DODGING BULLETS 238
Divided by the Sword Massachusetts and Common Sense
PART TWO: COLONIAL READING 244 American Literacy A Community of Readers
PART THREE: MARKETPLACE OF DISCOURSE 251 Economies of Print Networked Printers Continental Congress: Gathering and Scattering
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xi
PART FOUR: FRONT LINES 264
A General’s Perspective Something Worth Fighting For The End of Britishness
Chapter Seven: Common Sense and Independence
PART ONE: TEXT AND MOVEMENT 281
Reception and Progress An Uncommon Sensation
PART TWO: NEW YORK OR VIRGINIA 286
New York and Common Sense Virginia and Common Sense New York and the Spirit of ’87 Virginia and Independence The Virginia Resolves and the Spirit of ’76 Richard Henry Lee and the Gauntlet of Independence
PART THREE: AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 304
From Text to Discourse Finally, a Pamphlet Challenge The Circulation of Colonial Newspapers Philadelphia Flashpoint Propaganda and Critique Echoes of Common Sense Realizing Independence
Chapter Eight: Transatlantic Resistance
PART ONE: LOYALIST WHIGS AND PATRIOTIC TORIES 326
The Gamble of Loyalism Maryland’s Resistance Redefining Whig and Tory A Rational Choice
PART TWO: BRITISH COMMON SENSE 339 A Useful Distraction
A Gross Misunderstanding Almon’s Hiatuses
PART THREE: FOG OF LOYALTY 356
Reconciliation or Independence The Other Franklin and an Unwelcome Innuendo
Table of Contents xii
Chapter Nine: A Conflict of Interest
PART ONE: DIVIDED LOYALTIES 365
Irreconcilable Differences
PART TWO: SENTIMENTAL DEPENDENCE 367
Out of Edenton Henry Laurens and the Inner Conflict of Separation
PART THREE: MERCANTILE INTEREST 372
Interest and Disinterest Class Consciousness Loyal Merchants
PART FOUR: CONSTITUTIONAL OPPOSITION 379
An Excess of Moderation
PART FIVE: CONFLICTED CLERGY 385
Ministers of the Administration Textual Sabotage No Man Can Serve Two Masters
PART SIX: TREATING WITH BARBARIANS 393
Waiting for Commissioners, or: The Hessians are Coming
Chapter Ten: A War of Words
PART ONE: DUELLING PENS 401 A Defining Debate
A Man of Conflict
PART TWO: SPEAKING FOR MONTGOMERY 404 Remembering the General William Smith’s Oration Thomas Paine’s Dialogue
PART THREE: COMMISSIONERS AND COMMITTEES 410 Loyal Moderation Cassandra’s First and Cato’s Second The Constitutions of the People Cato versus Conventions and Common Sense Cassandra’s Final Parry and Thrust
PART FOUR: THE BATTLEGROUND OF PRINT 424
Cato on Alliances and Government The Forester Enters the Fray Identity, Causality, and Sentiment
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xiii
At the Point of the Pen Cato’s Grand Finale Post Mortem on the Election An Unfair Advantage The Object of Attack The Conclusion of Cato
Chapter 11: Bicameral Philadelphia
PART ONE: JOHN ADAMS’S TWO HOUSES 455
John Adams and Common Sense John Adams and Bicameralism
PART TWO: PHILADELPHIA’S TWO HOUSES 461
Pennsylvania State House and Government Coffee Houses in British Culture London Coffee House and Society Coffee House Argument
PART THREE: THE LOCUS OF SOVEREIGNTY 473
Society and Government The Upheaval of Political Authority The Causes and Necessity of Taking up Sovereignty The People of America
PART FOUR: RECONCILIATION’S LAST GASP 483
An Unpopular Assembly Electoral Compromise The First of May
PART FIVE: CIRCUMVENTING THE CONSTITUTION 490
The Difference of Two Weeks Protest and Remonstrance Evacuating Philadelphia
PART SIX: DESTRUCTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS 497 Declaration of Indecision The Philadelphia Committee of Independence Battalion Resolutions Provincial Conference of Committees A House Undivided
Table of Contents xiv
Chapter Twelve: The American Mind
PART ONE: TEXTUALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY 516 A Journey from Philadelphia A Journey to Philadelphia
PART TWO: CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT THE HELM 520
A New Source of Authority Appealing to the Constitution Inching into Independence Instructing the Instructors Resolution and Preamble
PART THREE: THE DRAMA UNFOLDS 531 Casting the Die
The Bustle of June Drafting Original Equality The Vote for Independence The Vote for the Declaration Subscribing their Lives
PART FOUR: PUBLIC OPINION AND COMMON SENSE 542
About Face Problem Opinion Constitutional Criticism A Common Identity
Appendix 554
The Text of Common Sense
Bibliography 611
Index 650
A Chronology of Key Events Relating to Common Sense and Independence
June 13, 1774
Parliament passes the Quebec Act
June 22, 1774
Quebec Act receives the assent of King George III
September 5, 1774
First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia
September 30, 1774
Benjamin Franklin writes two “letters of introduction” for Thomas Paine, an Englishman about to set sail for America
October 26, 1774
Continental Congress sends “Appeal to the Inhabitants of Quebec”
November 30, 1774
Thomas Paine arrives in Philadelphia from England aboard the London Packet
December 1, 1774
American Non-importation Agreement takes effect
February 7, 1775
Parliament declares the Colonies in a state of rebellion
April 19, 1775
Battle of Lexington and Concord (Massachusetts)
May 1, 1775
Quebec Act takes effect
May 10, 1775
Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia
May 29, 1775
News of Lexington and Concord reaches England
June 17, 1775
Battle of Bunker Hill outside of Boston
Chronology xvi
July 6, 1775
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms published by the Continental Congress
July 8, 1775
“Olive Branch” Petition approved, published, and sent by the Continental Congress to King George III
August 23, 1775
King George III proclaims the American colonies to be in open rebellion
September 1, 1775
Richard Penn presents the “Olive Branch” Petition to the Earl of Dartmouth on behalf of the Continental Congress
September 10, 1775
American Non-exportation Agreement takes effect
September-December 1775
Paine composes Common Sense
October 18, 1775
British siege and burning of Falmouth in New England [now Portland, Maine]
October 26, 1775
King George III opens parliamentary session with a speech highly critical of the American “rebellion”
October 31, 1775
News reaches Philadelphia of George III’s proclamation of rebellion from August
November 7, 1775
Lord Dunmore, exiled governor of Virginia, issues proclamation freeing Virginia slaves who agree to fight the American rebels
November 9, 1775
George III’s August proclamation published in Philadelphia
November 9, 1775
Pennsylvania Assembly instructs its delegates in Continental Congress to reject all measures tending toward independence
December 6, 1775
Continental Congress publishes a reply to the king’s proclamation
December 22, 1775
Prohibitory Act, excluding all Americans from protection of the Crown and closing all American ports, passed in Parliament
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xvii
December 31, 1775
Continental Army fails to seize Quebec City and General Richard Montgomery is killed in battle
January 1, 1776
British siege and burning of Norfolk, Virginia
January 8, 1776
King’s speech opening Parliament arrives in Philadelphia via New York
January 9, 1776
Common Sense published by Robert Bell
January 9, 1776
King’s October 26 speech published in Philadelphia
January 17, 1776
News of General Montgomery’s death and defeat at Quebec reaches Philadelphia
January 27, 1776
Bell publishes a second edition of Common Sense
February 14, 1776
A new, expanded edition of Common Sense published in Philadelphia by William and Thomas Bradford
February 18, 1776
Continental Congress places an embargo on all exports to Britain and the British West Indies
February 19, 1776
William Smith, Provost of the College of Philadelphia, delivers an oration in memory of General Montgomery to Continental Congress
February 19, 1776
Paine leaves Philadelphia to visit New York
February 23, 1776
Gesunde Bernunft, the German edition of Common Sense, published in Philadelphia
February 27, 1776
Copies of the Prohibitory Act arrive in Philadelphia
February 27, 1776
Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge between loyalists and patriots in North Carolina
Chronology xviii
March 1, 1776
Prohibitory Act takes effect
March 2, 1776
Committee of Secret Correspondence instructs Silas Deane to negotiate for French aid
March 4, 1776
William Smith’s Oration in Memory of General Montgomery published in Philadelphia by John Dunlap
March 9, 1776
First letter of “Cassandra” [James Cannon] appears in the Pennsylvania
Evening Post (continued in multiple papers through May 1, 1776)
March 11, 1776
Royal proclamation authorizing the seizure of American “prizes” published in Philadelphia
March 11, 1776
First of eight letters “To the People of Pennsylvania” by “Cato” [William Smith] appears in the Pennsylvania Packet (continued in multiple papers
through April 29, 1776)
March 13, 1776
Plain Truth by “Candidus” [James Chalmers] published in Philadelphia by Robert Bell
March 14, 1776
Continental Congress votes to disarm all loyalists
March 14, 1776
House of Lords debates and defeats a conciliatory motion introduced by the Duke of Grafton
March 17, 1776
British troops evacuate Boston
March 18, 1776
The Deceiver Unmasked by “A Loyal American” [Charles Inglis] published in New York by Samuel Loudon
March 19, 1776
New York Sons of Liberty destroy entire Loudon edition of The Deceiver Unmasked
March 22, 1776
The City of London submits a petition to the king supporting the Americans
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xix
March 26, 1776
South Carolina adopts a new constitution
April 1, 1776
First of four letters “To Cato” by “The Forester” [Thomas Paine] printed in the Pennsylvania Packet (continued in multiple papers through May 20, 1776)
April 6, 1776
Congress opens American ports to trade with all nations except Britain
April 8, 1776
Excerpts of Common Sense first reprinted in London newspapers
April 12, 1776
“Halifax Resolves” supporting independence passed by North Carolina Provincial Congress
April 22, 1776
Thoughts on Government [by John Adams] published in Philadelphia
May 1, 1776
Closely contested Philadelphia election carried by Moderate Party
May 8, 1776
Bell issues Second Edition of Plain Truth
May 10, 1776
Congress receives confirmation of intelligence that Hessian troops are coming to America
May 10, 1776
Congress passes a resolution instructing every colony to form new governments
May 15, 1776
Congress adds preamble to resolution of May 10
May 15, 1776
Virginia passes resolution calling on Congress to vote independence
May 15, 1776
Hessian troops embark for America
May 17, 1776
America observes Day of Fasting and Prayer
May 20, 1776
Philadelphia town meeting demands that the Pennsylvania Assembly cease functioning
Chronology xx
May 27, 1776
“Virginia Resolves” and “Halifax Resolves” lain before Continental Congress
May 28, 1776
Long extracts of Common Sense printed in John Almon’s Evening Post (continued in multiple London newspapers through June 13, 1776)
May 29, 1776
The True Interest of America Impartially Stated by “An American” [Charles Inglis] (edited reprint of The Deceiver Unmasked) published in Philadelphia
June 5, 1776
Reply of George III to a “Humble Address and Petition” of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of London (dated March 22,
1776) published in Philadelphia
June 5, 1776
Pennsylvania Assembly appoints committee to draw up new instructions concerning independence
June 7, 1776
Richard Henry Lee introduces a resolution on independence to the Continental Congress
June 8, 1776
Pennsylvania Assembly submits new instructions to delegates removing prior restriction but not providing positive instruction
June 11, 1776
Continental Congress appoints a draft committee to compose a declaration of independence
June 12, 1776
Continental Congress appoints a confederation committee and a treaty committee and adjourns until July 1
June 12, 1776
Virginia adopts a “Declaration of Rights” drafted by George Mason
June 14, 1776
Pennsylvania Assembly adjourns after a three week session
June 14, 1776
Connecticut Assembly approves positive instructions for its delegates
June 15, 1776
New Hampshire Assembly urges a vote for independence
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xxi
June 19, 1776
Pennsylvania Provincial Conference begins
June 22, 1776
New Jersey Provincial Congress authorizes its delegates to vote for independence
June 24, 1776
Pennsylvania Provincial Conference submits new instructions for delegates in Continental Congress
June 25, 1776
Pennsylvania Provincial Conference ends
July 1, 1776
Continental Congress reconvenes and hears new instructions for Maryland delegates
July 1-4, 1776
Continental Congress debates the Jefferson’s draft of a declaration of independence
July 4, 1776
Continental Congress “unanimously” approves declaration
July 7, 1776
Silas Deane arrives in Paris to negotiate with France
July 8, 1776
Declaration of Independence published and read publicly in Philadelphia
July 9, 1776
New York Assembly approves of independence
July-September 1776
Declaration of Independence published and proclaimed in other states
July 12, 1776
Continental Congress opens debate on draft of articles of confederation and perpetual union
July 15, 1776
Pennsylvania’s Constitutional Convention convenes
August 2, 1776
Congressional delegates begin signing the Declaration of Independence
Abbreviations Used in Notes and Bibliography
NYG The New York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury NYJ The New-York Journal; or, The General Advertiser PEP The Pennsylvania Evening Post PM The Pennsylvania Magazine; or, American Monthly Museum PG The Pennsylvania Gazette PJ The Pennsylvania Journal; and the Weekly Advertiser PL The Pennsylvania Ledger; or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylva-
nia, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
DPP Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet, or, The General Advertiser PS Henrich Miller’s Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote CW The Complete Writings of Thomas Paine, 2 vols. (Philip S.
Foner, ed.) CS Common Sense AC American Crisis RM Rights of Man AR Age of Reason AA Abigail Adams AL Arthur Lee BF Benjamin Franklin BR Benjamin Rush CCC Charles Carroll of Carrollton (son, Maryland delegate to Con-
tinental Congress) CCA Charles Carroll of Annapolis (father) DR David Rittenhouse GM George Mason GW George Washington HL Henry Laurens JA John Adams KGIII King George III LN Lord North NG Nathanael Greene RHL Richard Henry Lee RS Richard Smith TJ Thomas Jefferson TP Thomas Paine SA Samuel Adams
Abbreviations xxiv
WL William Lee WS William Smith AAS American Antiquarian Society BL British Library APS American Philosophical Society HL Houghton Library, Harvard University HSP Historical Society of Pennsylvania LCP Library Company of Philadelphia MHS Massachusetts Historical Society NL Newberry Library NUL Northwestern University Library NYHS New York Historical Society UPA University of Pennsylvania Archives LDC Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789 (Paul H. Smith,
1976-2000) JCC(A) Journals of the Continental Congress (Robert Aitken, 1777) JCC(F) Journals of the Continental Congress (Worthington Chauncey
Ford, 1906)