Graff met in the house of Thones Konders, it is supposed, and drew up what is usually regarded as the first public protest against the holding of slaves on record in America. These are the reasons why we are against the traffik of menbody, as followeth. Yea, rather is it worse for them which say they are Christians, for we hear that ye most part of such negers are brought hitherto against their will and consent, and that many of them are stolen. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against. You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing.
Quakers here do handel men and they handel there ye cattle.
And for that reason some have no mind or inclination to come hither. Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better hereof, viz., that Christians have liberty to practise these things. Being now this is not done in the manner we would be done at therefore we contradict and are against this traffic of men-body. And we whp pofess that it is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible. And such men ought to be delivered out of ye hands of ye robbers, and set free as well as in Europe.