Early United State

A Minute Against Slavery, Addressed to Germantown Monthly Meeting, 1688.

This is to ye Monthly Meeting held at Richard Worrell's.

These are the reasons why we are against the traffick of men-body, as foloweth. Is there any that would be done or handled at

this manner? viz., to be sold or made a slave for all the time of his life? How fearful and faint-hearted are many on sea, when

they see a strange vessel, - being afraid it should be a Turk, and they should be taken, and sold for slaves into Turkey. Now what

is this better done, as Turks doe? Yea, rather it is worse for them, which say they are Christians; for we hear that ye most part of

such negers are brought hither against their will and consent,and that many of them are stolen. Now, tho they are black, we

can not conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is a saying that we shall doe

to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And those

who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience wch is right

and reasonable; here ought to be liberty of ye body, except of evil-doers,wch is an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob

and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are

those oppressed wh are of a black colour. And we who know than men must not comitt adultery, - some do committ adultery,

in separating wives from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other

men. Ah! doe consider will this thing, you who doe it, if you would be done at this manner? And if it is done according to

Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, where

they hear of, that ye Quakers doe here handel men as they handel there ye cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or

inclination to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or pleid for it. Truly we can not do so, except you shall

inform us better hereof, viz., that Christians have liberty to practise these things. rray, what thing in the world can be done

worse towards us, than if men should rob or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries; separating husbands from

their wives and children. Being now that this is not done in the manner we would be done at therefore we contradict and are

against this traffic of men-body. And we who profess that is is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to purchase such things

as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible. And such men ought to be delivered out of ye hands

of ye robbers,and set free as well as in Europe. Then is rennsylvania to have a good report, instead it hath now a bad one for

this sake in other countries. Especially whereas ye Europeans are desirous to know in what manner ye Quakers doe rule in their

province; - and most of them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evil?

If once these slaves (wch they say are so wicked and stubbern men) should join themselves, - fight for their freedom, - and

handel their masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before; will these masters and mastrisses take the sword at hand

and warr against these poor slaves, licke, we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe; or have these negers not as much

right to fight for their freedom, as you have to keep them slaves?

Now consider will this thing, if it is good or bad? And in case you find it to be good to handle these blacks at that manner, we

desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may inform us herein, which at this time never was done, viz., that Christians

have such a liberty to do so. To the end we shall be be satisfied in this point, and satisfie likewise our good friends and

acquaintances in our natif country, to whose it is a terror, or fairful thing, that men should be handeld so in rennsylvania.

This is from our meeting at Germantown, held ye18 of the 2 month, 1688, to be delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard

Worrell's.

Garret henderich

derick up de graeff

Francis daniell rastorius

Abraham up Den graef