Quaker Protest Against Slavery in the New World, Germantown (Pa.) 1688

              This is to ye monthly meeting hold at Rigert Warrells. 
These are the reasons why we are against the traffik of men-body, 
as followeth: 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 & fainthearted are many on sea when they see a strange 
vassel. being afraid it should be a Turck, and they should be tacken, 
and sold for slaves into Turckey. Now what is this better done, 
as Turcks doe? yea, rather is it worse for them wch say they are Christians, 
for we hear that ye most part of such negers are brought heither 
against their will & consent and that many of them are stollen. 
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 licke as we will be done 
ourselves; macking 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 alicke? Here is liberty of conscience wch. 
is right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty 
of ye body, except of evildoers, wch is an other case. But to bring 
men hither, or to robb and sell them against their will, we stand against. 
In Europe there are many oppressed for Conscience sacke; and here there 
are those oppressed wch are of a Black Colour. and we who know 
that men must not comitt adultery, some doe comitt adultery in others, 
separating wifes from their housbands, and giving them to others. 
and some sell the children of those poor Creatures to other men. 
Ah! doe consider well this things, you who doe it, if you would be 
done at this manner? and if it is done according Christianity? 
You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This mackes 
an ill report in all those Countries of Europe, where they hear off, 
that ye Quackers doe here handel men licke they handel there ye 
Cattle. and for that reason some have no mind or inclination 
to come hither. And who shall maintaine this your cause, or 
plaid for it? Truely we can not do so, except you shall 
inform us better hereoff, viz: that christians have liberty 
to practise this things. Pray, what thing in the world can be done 
worse towards us, then if men should robb or steal us away, 
& sell us for slaves to strange Countries, separating housband 
from their wife and children. Being now this is not done 
at that manner we will be done at, therefore we contradict & are 
against this traffic of men body. And we who profess