e equally on sons and daughters, servants and
handmaids. To believe otherwise is irrational and inconsistent
with the divine attributes, and would charge the Almighty with
partiality and injustice to one-half of His rational creation.
Therefore I believe it would be wrong to admit it, although
asserted in the most plain and positive manner by men or angels.

In our last conflict with Great Britain, Elias Hicks called the
attention of "Friends" to a faithful support of their testimony
against war and injustice, desiring them to maintain their
Christian liberties against encroachment of the secular powers,
laws having been enacted levying taxes for the support of the
war. At one meeting there was considerable altercation; as some
Friends who refused payment had been distrained some three or
four fold more than the tax demanded, while others complied, paid
the tax, and justified themselves in so doing. On this point his
mind was deeply exercised and he labored to encourage Friends to
faithfulness to exalt their testimonies for the Prince of Peace.

Elias Hicks preached against slavery both in Maryland and
Virginia. He says of a meeting in Baltimore that he especially
addressed slave-holders. Further, he opposed the use of
slave-grown goods. At a meeting in Providence, R. I., he said he
was moved to show the great and essential difference there is
between the righteousness of man comprehended in his laws,
customs, and traditions, and the righteousness of God which is
comprehended in pure, impartial, unchangeable justice. They who
continue this traffic, and enrich themselves, by the labor of
these deeply oppressed Africans, violate these plain principles
of justice, and no cunning sophistical reasoning in the wisdom of
this world can justify them, or silence the convictions of
conscience.

Some other Friends were much opposed to the use of slave products, but
the Society in general "had no concern" on this point. Lucretia Mott
used "free goods," and thought that Elias' preaching such extreme
doctrines on all these practical reforms, had their effect in the
division. To refuse to pay taxes, or to use any "slave produce,"
involved more immediate and serious difficulties, than any theoretical
views of the hereafter, and even Friends may be pardoned for feeling
some interest in their