The Conduct of the Paxton Men Impartially Represented - 16
Such was the Sense of the greatest Men in England, and such the Caution and Lenity of a British Parliament.
But what will the World say, or Posterity think of your meek and peaceable Quakers, who thro’ pretended Scruples against Resistance thro’ Obstinacy and Love of worldly Power, which they themselves would neither apply to the Ends for which it ought to be used, nor resign into the Hands of those that would; who have so long suffer’d the Province to bleed beneath the Savage Knife, its fairest and most fruitful Fields to be deluged in Gore, and laid waste and desolate by Barbarian Spoilers! when they have been frequently supplicated, entreated and conjured, by all the ties of brotherly Love, Friendship, Humanity and Justice, to consider the Misery and Distraction of their Country-----but could never be prevailed upon to stand up in its Defence, or to use proper Means to rescue it from these sad Calamities: Yet have lately appeared with Arms and all the dread Machinery of War, to fight their beggar’d, ruined, miserable Fellow Subjects; and to afford that Protection to their cruel Enemies and Murderers, which their unhappy Countrymen, in their most deplorable Circumstances, could never obtain from them?-----O ungenerous, unfeeling Men! Was this the way to treat a ruined, desparing People?-----Will not Religion, Reason, Humanity, Justice, Charit, answer No?-----Who was it that reduc’d them to the disagreeable Necessity of proceeding in the Manner they did?------From what Source are they to derive their Misery? and, Who was it that provok’d and moved them to Resentment? Who is it that has made them Rioters, and then Reproaches, and desires they may be Shot or Hang’d for being so? Who is it that has thrown so many Obstacles in the Way of their Protection and Security? Who is it that has screened and supported the Enemies of their Country, and pours out Vengeance and Destruction upon those that attempt to chas-
