The Address of the People Called Quakers - 9
The Eight Paragraph of the second Paper called the Remonstrance, being chiefly answered by the foregoing Observations, it may be necessary only to observe, on the malicious Charge of “abetting the Indian Enemies, and keeping up a private Intelligence with them,” which we assure the Governor is altogether False and Groundless, and we do not know of any Member of our Society chargeable therewith. The Transaction relating to the String (which they have called a Belt of Wampum) we find by Letters from General FORBES, and other Papers produced to us, was in Consequence of a Message sent by the King’s Deputy Agent to the Indians of the Ohio, “in the Name of Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, their Brother ONAS, and the Descendants of the first Settlers who came over with their antient Brother WILLIAM PENN;” as also of FREDERICK POSTS being engaged by some Members of our Community to go on another Message to these Indians, by the express Orders of that General, who then commanded the King’s Army, and with the Concurrence of the Governor of this Province; but we do not approve or think it allowable, for any private Subject to carry on a Correspondance or Treat with the Enemies of the King and Government, nor to engage in the Transaction of any Affairs of the Government, without the Privity and Consent of those in Authority over us.
We desire the Governor to excuse our taking this Opportunity of exculpating ourselves, from another false Accusation, industriously propagat-
