Anarchy in the PA

Jesse Walker | July 8, 2005

Murray Rothbard's account of Colonial Pennsylvania's brush with anarchism, taken from his book Conceived in Liberty, is now online.

My favorite part:

John Blackwell's initial reception as deputy governor was an omen of things to come. Sending word ahead for someone to meet him upon his arrival in New York, he landed there only to find no one to receive him. After waiting in vain for three days, Blackwell went alone to New Jersey. When he arrived at Philadelphia on December 17, he found no escort, no parade, no reception committee. [He] couldn't find the Council or any other government officials--and this was after he had ordered the Council to meet upon his arrival. One surly escort appeared and he refused to speak to the new governor. And when Blackwell arrived at the empty Council room, a group of boys from the neighborhood gathered around to hoot and jeer.