Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

An Answer to the Pamphlet Entitled "The Conduct of the Paxton Men" - 5

own Merits deserve, which it seems were esteemed great,---(by whom?) Why by our Superiors. For he sayeth, that they were (observe) permitted. I ask this Writer, who permitted them? It could not be their Equals. For no Man hath power to permit another to do a Thing, but he must also have power to forbid the doing of that Thing, Here is the meaning of the Word, (permit.) I.e. to give leave, to Authorize, Suffer or allow, a person to do somewhat---now I say, a person must be invested with power in himself, before he can deligate another to Transact any Affair; neither can a Man act in Contempt of Authority, when his Actions receive their very Being from that Authority. Well I conceive the Force of his Argument carries thus much, that Israel and Joseph were Men, whose Viracity the Government might confide in; therefore allowed to act in the Manner they thought fit. A very just permission; for it has evidently appeared, that those two Men have acted their parts in the most worthy Manner they were capable of, for the well-being of this province, with regard to Indian Affairs.---I ask how can that be? When the same Writer affirmeth, that they have acted in Contempt of the Government, and the express orders of the Crown. Why I must allow it to be a plain Contradiction. But will not his speaking the Truth in the Front of his Letter (where he sayeth he is no Adept in politicks) paliate for a few Untruths in the following Sheets, well but he sayeth they held private ------- Treaties with the Indians. (Where was that) why at the publick Treaty at Lancaster: Where his

Contents of this annotation: