[Petition to abolish slavery] Tennessee, General Assembly next section
Page [1] view page image
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 |
Page [2] view page image
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 |
Page [3] view page image
Names |
Andrew Duncan |
[unclear: Mosses van sayoc ] |
Names 75 |
[added: petition &c [et cetera]]
Page [4] view page image
|