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To the Honorable Senate and house of Representatives of the State of Tennessee Assembled. —

— We your humble petitioners hereunto Subscribed feeling solitcitious [solicitous] to promote the rights of man, as acknowledged and held forth in the Constitution of the United States of America; and [added: the] Declaration of Independence; are Induced to petition your Honourable [Honorable] Body, to take into Consideration the deplorable Situation of the [added: people] of colour [color], who are held in Slavery in this our highly favoured [favored] and high professing Country; and in your wisdom derive Some plan and pass it into a law for the relief, of such, at [unclear] least, as allowing of Masters who are convinced of the Impropriety of holding Slaves; to Emancipate them on terms which would not involve them nor their Estates, for their maintainance [maintenance] &c [et cetera] — provided that the Court Should be of opinion that the Slaves to be Emancipated are in all probability capable of maintaining themselves.—

— And further we would Suggest to you the propriety, the Justice, the good policy, &c [et cetera] of your honorable body passing a law Declaring, agreeable to the purport of our Federal Constitution our bill of rights, and the laws of nature; that all men are, and Should be free, and that, notwithstanding the laws, which have heretofore, Involved so considerable a part of our population in Slavery; That all the descendents of Slaves which may be born after some [added: the] passing of the law, Shall be free, at Some age, which your honourable [honorable] body, Doing as you would be done by, may fix upon; Meanwhile Enjoining on those who may have the raising of such, to teach them Some occupation by which they may get an honest living, And teach them (at least) to read the holy Scripture, and give them reasonable previlege [privilege] of attending meetings for divine worship, and further we — would not Intrude upon your understanding, knowing your Entire Capability of digesting this our petition, and and passing it into a law; For which we humbly pray the author of Justice and willer of right, to Influence your minds— thereunto, —

Names	Names
Thomas Lymons	James Britton
Hugh [unclear: Leenes ] Olaseh	Joseph Beals
godfray Salar	William Mchaney
Adam Lowry	Isaac Beals
Obediah Givens	John Jones
Gideon Marr slave	Eli Richey
John McCraken Jr [Junior]	Samuel Jones
	William Nickel

Names	Names
Thos [Thomas] Ferguson	James Robinson
Henry Martain	[unclear: SJm Rooss ]
Richard Martain	James B. Rodgers
Isaac Slaire	Elias Owens
Andrew Duncan	Jonas Marsh
John Brown	Samuel Grubs
John [unclear: Richard ]	John [unclear: Kanedy ]
Jacob Closon	Hugh Kanedy
Isaac Smith	John Martain
Ezra Devine	John Neloose
Henry Marsh	William Smith
John Tucker	Joseph Duncan Junr [Junior]
Joseph Tucker	Caleb Martain
Jacob Taylor	John Steam
Jesse Murphey	George jinken slave [unclear: h ]
Sam.l [Samuel] [unclear: Greves ]	John [unclear: Dupreeve ]
John Greve	Jos [Joseph] Duncan Snr [Senior]
Nathel [Nathaniel] Jones	Isaac Mulkey
George Pursell	Jonathan Mulkey
John Squibb	Philemon Lacey
Isaac Keas	Henry Haire
George bell , slave h	[unclear: John ] Haire
Francis Alexander	Abraham Haire
Francis Duncan
Andrew Duncan	Samuel Lewis
Nicholas Tucker
Mathew Stephenson slave h	John Keas
John B, Estes	Jacob Ellis
Jacob Haire	Ezekiel Lyon
George Squibb	[unclear: lark Olly ] slave L

Names
Andrew Duncan	[unclear: Mosses van sayoc ]	Names 75

[added: petition &c [et cetera]]