A
few years after their arrival Penn’s German cousins issued a proclamation
against slavery. The 1688 Germantown protest went basically as follows:
" This is to ye Monthly
Meeting held at Richard Warrell's.
These
are the reasons why we are against the traffick of men Body, as followeth: Is
there any that would be done or handles at this manner? Viz., to be sold or made
a slave for all the time of his life? How fearful & fainthearted are many on
sea when they see a strange vessel, being afraid it should be a Turck, and they
should be tacken and sold for slaves into Turkey. Now what is this better done
as Turks doe? Yea rather is it worse for them which say they are Christians; for
we hear that the most part of such Negers are brought hither against their will
& consent; and that many of them are stolen. Now though they are black, we
cannot conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have
other white ones. There is a saying, that we shall doe to all men, like as we
will be done our selves; making no difference of what generation, decent or
Color they are. And those who steal or rob men, and those who buy or purchase
them, are they not all alike? Here
is liberty of Conscience which is right & reasonable; here ought to be
likewise liberty of the body, except of evildoers, which is another case. But to
bring men hither or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against.
In Europe there are many oppressed for Conscience sake; and here there are those
oppressed, which are of black Color. And we, who know that men must commit
adultery, some doe commit adultery in others, separating wives from their
husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children of those poor
Creatures to other men. Oh! Doe consider well this things, you who doe it; if
you would be done at this manner? And if it is done according Christianity? You
surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those
Countries of Europe, where they hear off, that the Quakers doe here handle men
like they handle their Cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or
inclination to come hither, and who shall maintain this your cause or plaid for
it? Truly we can not do so except you shall inform us better hereof, viz.: that
Christians have liberty to practice this things. Pray! What thing in the world
can be done worse towards us, then if men should rob or steal us away, &
sell us for slaves to strange Countries, separating husband(s) from their wives
& children. Being now this is not done at that manner, we will be done at,
therefore we contradict & are against this traffic of menbody. And we who
profess that it is not lawful to steal, must likewise avoid to purchase such
things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing & stealing if
possible; and such men ought to be delivered out of the Robbers & set free
as well as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead it
hath now a bad one for this sake in other countries. Especially whereas the
Europeans are desirous to know in what manner the Quakers doe rule in their
Province; & most of them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But if this
is done well, what shall we say is done evil?
If
once these slaves which they say are so wicked and stubborn men should join
themselves, fight for their freedom and handle their masters & mistresses as
they did handle them before; will these Masters and mistresses take the sword at
hand & war against these poor slaves, like we are able to believe, some will
not refuse to doe? Or have these Negers not as much right to fight for their
freedom, as you have to keep them slaves?
Now
consider well this thing, if it is good or bad? And in case you find it to be
good to handle these blacks at that manner, we desire & require you hereby
lovingly, that you inform us here in, which at this time never was done, viz.,
that Christians have such a liberty to do so. To the end we shall be satisfied
in this point, & satisfy likewise our good friends & acquaintances in
our native Country, to whose it is a terror or fearful thing that men should be
handled so in Pennsylvania.
This
is from our Meeting at Germantown held the 18th of the 2nd month 1688. To be
delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard Warrels.
Garret Hendericks
Derick op de graeff
Francis Daniell Pastorius
Abraham op Den graef
A
sequel to the protest was eventually accepted by the other meetings and printed
in 1693 "An exhortation and Caution To Friends Concerning buying and
keeping of Negroes.
The
identification of the Op den Graeff’s as cousin to William Penn and the life
of Giles Penn should place the proclamation against slavery into a brighter
light.