The Quaker Unmasked - 7
WHAT these People intended by their coming down arm’d let themselves declare. I only observe, that the Manner of their Behaviour when they came, did them Honour; as it shew’d them to be brave, loyal and discreet.
THEY sent in a memorial to the Governor, which was deliver’d by a Member of the Assembly (tho’ it has since been falsely asserted, that they never had a Notion of Remonstrating, till they saw how Things stood when they came to Germantown) setting forth their Grievances, and begging Redress; at the same Time giving Assurance that they did not intend to do the least Injury to any of their fellow Subjects. And that they were sincere in this Declaration their Conduct has sufficiently prov’d. They let his Honour know that by such a Time they wou’d be at Germantown, and there halt till he was pleas’d to give them an Answer.---It was then propos’d, by Gentlemen of Candour and Humanity, to send out Delegates to treat with those People: But this was warmly oppos’d by some of the People call’d Quakers, who spoke to this Effect. “That they had Force sufficient to kill the whole, and tho’ some of the Citizens shou’d lose their Lives, it was better so than condescend to treat with such a Banditti.”
NEVERTHELESS the Gentleman’s Opinion, who were more averse to shedding the Blood of their fellow Subjects than the meek, peaceful, inspir’d Quakers, did prevail; and the Day following some Gentlemen of unexceptionable Character, went to Germantown, and had a Meeting with Delegates from the Paxton Voluntiers. But instead of finding them a senseless rude and lawless Banditti, they found them a well behav’d and orderly People who avowed
