The Quaker Vindicated - 6
But let us further listen to what is said in behalf of the Rioters:—"They had long before," says their Champion, "sent several Petitions to the Governor and Assembly, which, it's supposed, have been concealed by some ill-designing persons; his Honour never having received these Remonstrances,—and they looked upon themselves as neglected by the Government". Is it not surprizing that if these People had done so, they should not have availed themselves of so strong a Plea in their Declaration and Remonstrance? where not a word like it is mentioned. And are those that they sent such Petitions to (whom we may suppose their unquestionable Friends) so neglectful of their cause and interest, as to conceal such important Papers? But this Writer has made so bold with Truth in several other places, that he has given us reason to doubt the verity of this assertion. But admitting that to be the case, why are the poor Quakers to be so egregiously reviled? Is it to be thought that they either concealed the Petitions, or bribed others to do it?
In the next paragraph he owns, the Paxton People are "mad", but says it is owing to their "Oppression". For, says he, "have not all Nations and Generations found it so? Nay, is not the happy and glorious Revolution, by which our Civil and Religious Rights, as Englishmen and Protestants, were secured on their present footing, a striking Instance of this Truth"? that is, were not the renowned Nassau, and all those Worthies, that assisted in establishing the blessed Revolution, "mad", like the Pr—st. enflamed Rioters of Pennsylvania? Noble comparison! thrice puissant Advocate! — And how can the Quakers help their "madness" and "desperation"? But here we have a Clue to the whole Scheme of Philopatrius, which accounts for the great zeal and warmth he has shewn on this occasion; it is a Revolution then that he is hankering after, and prompts him, thus, by way of simile,
