The Plain Dealer, Numb. II - 12
OUR Author’s Masterpiece in Policy is not to be equaled; for, having tryed the Use of Arguments, which he finds will not avail him, his next Project is to endeavor to foment those Jealousies, which are already too great, and to bring over the Quakers to his Scheme, by alarming them with the Danger of losing their Seats in Assembly. But I would take it as a Favour to be informed, that supporting a Change of Government to be effected, how are the Quakers to preserve their Places then, better than they now can? Will not those People by whom they are in Danger of being turned out, be as powerful then as now? Or is there to be a Clause in the New Charter prohibiting a Change of Members? If neither of these be the Case, I must conclude, that it was mentioned with no other Design than to keep up the Contention, in order to promote some Scheme, not for the Interest of the Community.
WE are told that no Injustice will be done the Proprietaries, that they will only be obliged to fulfil a Bargain formerly made with the Crown, for which they received Part of the Consideration; so that nothing remains but the Payment of the Remainder of the Sum agreed on, and the Affair is settled.-----But I must beg Leave to ask, How it came to pass that the CROWN happened to forget this Bargain, when a few Years ago it made the Proprietaries a much larger Offer for the Government than the Sum, of which it is said a Part is already paid? This certainly has been an Oversight in the Ministry, from a Multiplicity of Business: Let me therefore propose that a sufficient Sum be raised to defray the Expence of an Embassy to England, and that our Author be engaged to undertake the Talk of negotiating the Affair, and reminding the Crown of the former Bargain.---This will undoubtedly be worth his while, as the Ministry, from Principles of Gratitude, can do no less than compliment him with the Government.
