The Beacon #2 November 1, 2021
By Gary Berton
Little has been written about the political party formed after Paine’s return from the battlefield in January 1777, the Whig Society. The Society, perhaps the first revolutionary party in modern history, took the lead in the politics of the war in 1777 in Philadelphia, then spread to surrounding states, before fading away towards the end of the war.
In a notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette on March 25th, 1777:
“At a meeting of the WHIG SOCIETY, held at the Philosophical Hall the first of April, 1777, Voted unanimously, That Messrs. Charles W. Peale, James Cannon, David Rittenhouse, Doctor Thomas Young, and Major Thomas Payne [sic], be a Committee of Correspondence for and in behalf of this Society, to correspond with any societies or individuals from whom they may expect to obtain information interesting to our common liberties. Extract from the Minutes, THOMAS YOUNG, Secretary.“ [Young would die on the battlefield shortly afterwards of disease.]
Another active member was also a leader in the Society – Timothy Matlack. These six men had hundreds of close followers and activists. They led the formation of mass-democratic committees formed outside of Congress to organize and mobilize militia groups and represent the militia privates, investigate hoarding, counter the Tory spies in the population, and defend the war by opposing reconciliation with Britain, and to defend the new Pennsylvania Constitution. These were the same men, along with Benjamin Franklin, who fought and won the pamphlet wars in the spring of 1776 that secured the passage of the Declaration of Independence. Matlack was instrumental in forming the local militias and the defense of Philadelphia, later becoming a leader in government. Cannon was a mathematics professor and helped craft the Pennsylvania Constitution. Peale became the famous American artist, and fought beside Paine in the march across New Jersey in ’76. Rittenhouse was the famous American scientist who worked with Paine on gunpowder production and had written articles for Paine’s Pennsylvania Magazine. And Young was the leader of the Boston Tea Party, and a doctor, hunted by the British there, he fled to Philadelphia to join Paine.
Led politically by Paine, these six formed the heart of the politics that secured the political strength to win the Revolutionary War. Its primary focus in addition to the above was to defend against the tactics of the Tories who wanted the Pennsylvania Constitution repealed, and against Tory supporters that included “founders” like Rush and Dickinson as supporters of the tactics. That Constitution was the most progressive and democratic probably in history, serving as the model for France’s 1793 Constitution (with Paine on its committee) which was never enacted due to the Reign of Terror. Cannon and Franklin were the main architects previous to the formation of the Society, as several historians pointed to Paine as the originator of its unicameral legislature and democratic structures.
A reprinting in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on March 20, 1777 of one of the Whig Society’s posters in Philadelphia presents its positions:
“Post introduction: The following articles are handing about in this city, and were the first night signed by upwards of fifty, and since then by a considerable number of the friends of liberty:
Whereas by the steady perseverance many true friends to liberty, and the public welfare, a happy coalition has affected between the different parties equally solicitous for the welfare of their country, the differing an opinion as to some means not essentially necessary for obtaining it, and there is a fair prospect of the restoration of order and the due establishment of civil legal authority, under which the strength of the state may be collected and exerted, and the inhabitants in every state of life be secured in the possession of peace and prosperity. And whereas it appears that there is nevertheless a scheme now forming to overturn all present order and authority, and to deprive us of the advantages of a militia law for our defense, and to throw our public affairs again into confusion, we, as names are underwritten, in order to prevent the irreparable mischiefs, which must ensue, she the enemy’s tour peace succeed, to solemnly engage yourselves to each other, and to the public, that we will most firmly adhere to and abide by the following articles. First, that we will, to the utmost of our abilities, support the just necessary authority of Congress, and the union independence of the American states, against all foreign power and domestic nations whatever.
Secondly, that we will, as far as in us lies, promote peace and good order in the state, and endeavour to bring to justice those who shall attempt to disturb either. Thirdly, that we will not, by force or violence, or by false representations, endeavour either to confirm or overturn a part of the present Constitution, contrary to the general sense of the state, but will refer the proof of every part thereof either to a candid reasoning or a fair experiment. Fourthly, then in the meantime we will, to the utmost of our power, support the civil magistrate in the execution of such wholesome laws as are or shall be enacted by the present assembly. Philadelphia, 18th March 1777.” The Whig Society went on to address Congress to petition it to suppress the activities of the Tory British sympathizers. Gary Burton representations, endeavour either to confirm or overturn a part of the present Constitution, contrary to the general sense of the state, but will refer the proof of every part thereof either to a candid reasoning or a fair experiment. Fourthly, then in the meantime we will, to the utmost of our power, support the civil magistrate in the execution of such wholesome laws as are or shall be enacted by the present assembly. Philadelphia, 18th March 1777.”
The Whig Society went on to address Congress to petition it to suppress the activities of the Tory British sympathizers.