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Election address

• Transcript of the document

[Back to Quakers and slavery]

Transcript

As a new Election of Members of Parliament for the County of York will soon commence, we take the liberty of recommending to the members of our society, who are entitled to vote on this occasion, to consider whether their late Representative William, Wilberforce, is not peculiarly entitled to their vote and interest. Independently of other considerations the zeal, steadiness, and ability, with which he has long maintained the cause of the African race, and on every proper occasion, urged the abolition of the slave-trade, give him a strong claim to the attachment and support of Friends.

We are sensible that, in general, it does not comport with the principles and practice of our society, to take a very active part in elections. But there are, doubtless, occasions which call for such exertions: and we conceive that the present is one of this nature; as it involves a subject which has, for half a century, deeply engaged the sympathy and attention of the Society.

If the friends whom we now address, should view the subject in the same light as we do, they will probably deem it of importance to be present at the time of Nomination; as a seasonable and numerous attendance of the friends of William Wilberforce, may have a great influence in securing his election; and in preventing a contest, which would be attended with serious and distressful consequences. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that, in supporting their late representative, friends will see the propriety of bearing their own expenses, and putting the candidate to no charge whatever.

We trust that this application to the members of our society will not be thought, by any of them, an improper interference. We desire only to turn their attention seriously to the subject; and to induce them to reflect on the great importance of re-electing a person, whose labours have done so much towards abolishing the iniquitous trade in human beings; whose views, on this interesting subject, have so fully corresponded with our own; and whose continued exertions, in the present critical state of the question, would greatly contribute to a happy termination of the wrongs and sorrows of Africa.

William Tuke
Thomas Priestman
Lindley Murray

York, 27th of 10th Month, 1809 [27 October 1809]