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The Plain Dealer, Numb. III - 4

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lators as their children. These arguments were seconded by some of a different species. Taverns were engag’d, many of the poorer and more dependent kind of labouring people in town were invited thither by night, the fear of being turn’d out of the business and the eloquence of a punch bowl prevailed on many to sign a petition, for the good of their country. Strange it is that even this kind of argument began to fail. Immediately two champions, one of whom is well acquainted with our affairs, for he is now on his second side of the question, agreed to publish each a pamphlet in one day. The pamphlets were publish’d, COOL THOUGHTS and AN ADDRESS TO THE FREEHOLDERS &c. The productions of an eminent philosopher and lawyer, were distributed gratis by thousands.-----The petition recovers new strength, and Quakers go about now in pairs to every house collecting names. It is certainly a pity that so much pains should be necessary to persuade people to sign for this new Government: But it is still a greater pity that truth itself is not forcive enough to persuade them, and that prevarications or the most notorious falshoods should be necessary to support this faction, for of such materials the philosopher and lawyer have form’d their pieces. This I hope will be plain if I should be able to prove what I now beg leave to affirm in direct contradiction to those gentlemen viz.

THAT a Quaker faction has tyrannized over the innocent inhabitants of our frontier counties, and
THAT this faction has most wickedly abused the Province by squandering away the public money,
IN bribes to a weak Government to pass iniquitous Laws,
IN support of Savages, who were enemies to his Majesty and this Province,
IN fruitless ill timed and unreasonable contentions with the Governor. In general by taking every public measure which might tend to enrich themselves, reduce

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  1. The Plain Dealer, Numb. III - 4