The Plain Dealer, Numb. II - 5
We cannot avoid paying a proper Attention to the forceable Argument with which our Author introduces his Reasons for a Change of Government; viz. That “Disputes have arisen in all Proprietary Governments;” from which I apprehend he would have his Readers draw this Conclusion, That Disputes are peculiar only to Proprietary Governments, and never subsist in those of another Form; I know of no other Consequence, he could, consistent with his Scheme, desire to have drawn from those Premises; but I must confess myself wholly unacquainted with his Logick: Events prove the Contrary, and it would be an Insult on the Understanding of Persons the least acquainted with the History of the neighbouring Governments, to attempt to point them out.
IF this be the Case, his Argument proves Nothing; and of Consequence was impertinent to his Purpose; which I think will very easily be made appear of most of the others he advances.
IT is very strange our Author, who would have us believe he is “heartily tired of these Disputes,” should so soon forget himself within the Compass of a few Lines from the Beginning of his Letter, as to repeat one of those Invectives which had occasioned the Animosities, and which we should have expected his COOL THOUGHTS would be calculated to suppress; I mean “that the Quaker’s being angry at the Proprietaries, was on account of their turning to the Church:” ---What could the Mention of this be for, but to raise a Resentment in the Quakers, against those, who it is pretended, were the Authors of such Report? Certainly he did not look upon it as an Argument in Favour of a Change of Government.
THERE appears throughout the Whole of this Performance, not the least Design to calm the Minds of the People,
