Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Meeting for Sufferings Minutes, 1788- 10-08 [extracts]

              To the general Assembly of the State of New Jersey
The Religious Socieity of the People called Quakers, respectfully do represent
That the common Rights of Man being an essential Object of the Care & attention of those entrusted with the Power of legislation & government, we are emboldened to address you on behalf of the much injured Africans, encouraged thereto by a thankful Sense that the God of Mercy & Equity hath enlightened & animated many Minds with a clear Sight & righteous Abhorrence of the Cruelty exercised on those oppressed People, so that liberality of Sentiment * true public Spirit have so far prevailed, that eminent Advocates of various religious Denominations have stept forth both in America & Europe to plead the Cause of this grossly abused part of our fellow Men, the important Subject being very seriously before the British Parliament, in Consequence of spirited Addresses from great Numbers in various parts of that Nation; and divers States on this Continent have enacted Laws to promote the Abolition of Slavery and to suppress the abominable Traffic still carried on to Africa by some Professors of Christianity, who, blinded by the debasing Motives of Avarice, manifest an Insensibility of the excellence & dignity of that Profession, as well as asordid Ignorance of the Injury & Disgrace offered their Country by such flagitious Departure from that fundamental Principle of national Happiness, An impartial Distribution of Justice, the common Right of all Men -- others in different parts, actuated by a like Spirite of Rapine, have used Means of Violence & Craft to captivate poor Blacks legally entitled to Freedom, whereby Numbers have been transported to the West India Islands, & other parts for Sale into unconditional Slavery; being thus not only deprived of the common Blessing they were by Nature entitled to, but plunged into additional depth of Affliction by an unnatural Separation of Husband & Wife from each other, and from their Children. To provide against the Continuance of those inhuman Practices, the Assembly of Penn:sylvania have lately passed an Act forbidding the Equipment etc. of any Vessel con:cerned in the Trade for Slaves, and rendering penal other shameful Abuses comitted on Africans & their Descendants; the good Effect of which Law was speedily manifest; yet, with respect to the Trade to Africa, can afford but a partial Remedy, unless the Legislatures of contiguous States unite in making like Provision against a public Evil so reproachful, which a late Instance has sorrowfully evinced, a Vessel equipt from the Port of Philadelphia last year in pursuit of this detestable Traffic, finding on her Return the aforementioned Impediment, entered the Port of a neighbour:ing State, from whence She was again fitted out on the same iniquitous Business -- We therefore request the affecting Subject may find with you that human & Xtian Attention it's Improtance claims, and that you will make such Provision & Regulation in the Premises as are conformable to a just Sense of the general Rights of Mankind & the Precepts of true Religion: evidencing thereby a sacred Regard to that truly virtuous Sentiment &s