Concessions to the Province of Pennsylvania (July 11, 1681) agreed upon by William Penn, proprietor:
<That so soon as it pleaseth God that the above said persons arrive there, a certain quantity of land, or ground plat, shall be laid out, for a large town or city...
- And forasmuch, as it is usual with the planters to over-reach the poor natives of the country, in trade, by goods not being good of the kind, or debased with mixtures, with which they are sensibly aggrieved, it is agreed, whatever is sold to the Indians, in consideration of their furs, shall be sold in the market place, and there suffer the test, whether good or bad; if good, to pass; if not good, not to be sold for good, that the natives may not be abused, nor provoked.
- That no man shall, by any ways or means, in word, or deed, affront, or wrong any Indian, but he shall incur the same penalty of the law, as if he had committed it against his fellow planter, and if any Indian shall abuse, in word, or deed, any planter of this province, that he shall not be his own judge upon the Indian, but he shall make his complaint to the governor of the province, or his lieutenant, or deputy...who shall, to the utmost of his power, take care with the king of the said Indian, that all reasonable satisfaction be made to the said injured planter.
- That all differences, between the planters and the natives, shall also be ended by twelve men, that is, by six planters and six natives; that so we may live friendly together as much as in us lieth, preventing all occasions of heart- burnings and mischief.
- That the Indians shall have liberty to do all things relating to improvement of their ground, and providing sustenance for their families, that any of the planters shall enjoy.
- That the laws, as to slanders, drunkenness, swearing, cursing, pride in apparel, trespasses, distresses, replevins, weights, and measures, shall be the same as in England.> 1681PP001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement
Endnotes:
1681PP001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Concessions to the Province of Pennsylvania, July 11, 1681, agreed upon by William Penn, proprietor.