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An Address to the Rev. Dr. Alison - 14

GREAT as your Enmity is to Quakers, you cannot, Rev. Sirs, charge that Sect with having ever attempted to behead or depose their Sovereign, or with treasonable Conspiracies, Murders, Riots, or illegal Opposition to Government. On the contrary, it is well known to the World, that this Province was first settled by Quakers; it's Government carried on, and it's Peace and Welfare promoted, by Measures founded on Wisdom and Prudence; the best Legislative Regulations were made, and Justice administred with the strictest Rectitude at Home, while Peace and Amity were carefully cultivated with the Natives abroad; and those very Indians, whose Interest it was to destroy the White People, were, by their consummate Policy, made instrumental in promoting the Settlement and Welfare of the Colony. And the same Policy had still continued, and the Happiness of the People been equally promoted, had not Proprietary private Interest interfered and prevented.

PERMIT me, before I leave this Point, to contrast the Conduct of the Quakers with your own, and those under your Influence. The Quakers have ever virtuously exerted themselves in favour of the just Rights and Liberties of Mankind, and have endeavoured to restrain the Proprietary Power within its proper Bounds: You, on the other Hand, have join'd with that Power, in the foolish and vain Expectation of usurping the Whole.—The Quakers have ever supported the Government, its Laws and Constitution, and that against all rebellious Riots and Attempts to tread it under Foot: You, and those under your Influence, have been either the Principals or Abettors of all the Riots that have been insolently raised in Defiance of Government and its Laws, as your many insidious Writings, and the Letter now before me will testify. The Quakers, at the Request of the Government, united with others in defending it against the Rioters: But the Congregation under your Care, one or two at most excepted, were either passive,

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