Anti-Slavery Petition of 1795

Petition, page one.

Text of the petition

Page one

To The Speaker and House of Delegates in Virginia. The Petition of sundry Inhabitants of various parts of this State.

Respectfully Sheweth.

That your petitioners, from a full conviction that slavery is not only a moral but a political evil, which in all its forms, in all its degrees, is an outrageous violation and an odious degradation of human nature, tending to weaken the bonds of society, discourage trades and manufactures, indanger the peace and obstruct the prosperity of the country. And commiserating the unhappy situation of a large proportion of people within this state who by the Laws now in force, are held as personal property and they and their innocent offspring liable to be kept in perpetual bondage and ignorance, subject to the arbitrary will of those who hold them, as well in respect to inhuman treatment, as in unnatural separation from the most near and dear connections in life without appeal and without redress. They therefore conceive themselves in duty bound to remind this House as the proper guardians of every description of men within the State of a subject so interesting, and which appears to them in a particular manner, to call the attention and require the interposition of the Legislature.

Your Petitioners regret that several States within the American Union where these unalienable rights of human nature to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have been so clearly defined and successfully assured, should in contradiction thereto and contrary to the divine command of, “doing to others as they would they should do unto them,” suffer under sanction of Law so large a number of fellow men to remain in a state of abject slavery; at a time too, when the burning spirit of liberty seems to be diffusing itself through the world.

Your Petitioners are aware of the objections that probably would arise to a general and immediate Emancipation, as well from interested motives, as the unfitness of individuals for freedom: They are not insensible that a people long destitute of the means of mental improvement may in some instances be sunk below the common standard of human nature; accustomed to move at the will of a master or overseer, reflection may in some degree be suspended and reason and conviction have but little influence on their conduct; They are also sensible to the effect of custom, and the prejudices arising from a habit of looking upon the African race as an inferior species of mankind, and regarding them only as property. Believing nevertheless that, “God is no respecter of persons,” that he “hath made of one blood all Nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the Earth,” and that, “his mercies are over all his works;” Encouraged also by that gracious declaration of our Saviour as an excitement to acts of humanity and benevolence, viz. “Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Your Petitioner therefore in discharge of the duty they owe to the merciful Father of all the families of the Earth; compassion for the sufferers; and a desire to promote the true interest and prosperity of the Country; and also to remove as much as may be the objections which may arise from motives of present interest or the unfitness of individuals for freedom, and at the same time gradually abolish an evil of great magnitude: They humbly propose, and pray, that a law may be (made?) declaring the children slaves now born, or to be born after the passing of such act, to be made free, as they (text obscured).

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ages; to inform their instruction to Read &c. and to invest them with suitable privileges as an excitement to become useful citizens; and also to restrain the holders from inhuman treatment of those who may remain in Bondage. Or that the House may grant such other relief as in its wisdom may seem meet.

David Meade George Wythe Edmund Jones John Cringan Robert Turnbull William Richardson Samuel Couch Augustine Davis Joseph Harding Benja. (Rufred?) Thos. T. Bates Joseph A. Myers Reuben Harrison James Wright George Wills John Bryan Andrew Thaklin (Thelin?) Sheltman Peter Kelly John Ferguson (Row obscured) Jas. Moore Nicholas Walder George Wymer Joseph Pinnell Joseph Porter Benja. Wall Reuben Finnell James Moore Carr Waller John Parrish Wm. Ratcliff Wm. Shelburn Lewellin Spencer Wm. Weathers Charles Talley Saml. Gover (Barenil?) Hough Thomas Moore Joseph Fisher (Obscured) Ratikin (Obscured) Canby (Obscured) Cavian

John Harvie Charles W. Byrd John Pleasant John (Crow Jr.?) John McClurg Frederick Argyle J. Darmdale J. Heron Thos. Barnett John Lyre Archd. Pleasant Hugh French John Welch Ferdinand Lair Jacob Chauster Jarold Wiseman Robt. Rutherford James Brown John Deaning Saml. Myer George (Hir?) Shepherd Collins Charles Bodkin James Pinnell William Gains William Wright Wm. Keyes S.D. Haricman Lawrence Manfield John Dickerson Manfield B. Wood Richard Rix Benja. Brown Jade Williams Thoj. Crenshaw Wm. Mitchener Saml. Murray Isaac Thompson George Gregg Joseph Talbot Jonas Potts James Hamilton

James Warrington William DuVal John Stagg Geo. Clopton John Stewart Robert McCartney J. Pryor Wm. Fontaine Hale Sharp John Andrews Joseph Woodson Thomas Wafford Joseph Mitter Frederick Honaker Wm. Bryan Joseph Lair Elliot Rutherford Gordon Rogers Enos (Dorinis?) George Murray John Robertson Samuel Weeks Enos Tail Benja. Pinnell Richard Parks John Hutt David Robinson Eskridge Hall John Stevens George Arnold John Saunders Edmond Cole Wm. Ellis Emward Wilkinson Willm. Clayton Joseph Smith Joseph Jenny Wm. Barnes Isaac Siddal Thomas Smith Samuel Thompson Saml. Donahue

Jams. Tyler Anthy. Singleton Robt. Pleasants Jur. John Marshall William Dabney Jackson Frayser Saml. Parsons Alexr. Buchanan Ebenezar Maul Daniel Butter David Bullock Wm. McKee Andrew Muirhead Michael Bachar Cornelius Bryan William Gray Archer Rutherford Josiah Shipman Jur. John Stephen John J. Woodick Reuben Moore John Weeks John Hickman Willm. Pinnell Byron Mcgreath Thomas Benton Peter Harrison Reuben Hrother David Richardson Jr. Edward T. Rowgee John Roper Thos. Cowler John Pierce James Hill Wm. Stabler Francis Hague Mahlon Jenny Thomas Mason John Hough John Hollingsworth Wm. Aniby Livan Powell

Alexander Campbell Henry (Hath?) James Binford Benja. Lewis William Lawrence Joseph Butter Thos. Nicholson Adam Craig B. Rawlings Thomas Carneal Matthew Woodson Wm. Hughes Stephen Ruddill Richd. Hughes Morgan Bryan Michael Waring William Dunnavan J. Shipman Senr. Jacob Myer B. Tilden John Hickman Saml. Jenkins Jas. Saml. Wright Danl. Field John Thornhill James Robertson Thos. Maddox Wm. Thomas John West Richard Pope John Gadbury Henry Cowler Walter Hopkins Francis Lennard Joseph Beale Isaac Harris Saml. Haugh John Hirsh Wm. Hough Joseph Wood Nathaniel Stephens Wm. Hartshorn, Abraham Gilpin

John Barrit Isaac Younghusband Chas. Copland (Lain?) J Johnson Ro. Gambler John Butter Wm. Carter (Sr.?) Robt. Langley John Harris James Ferguson Josiah Woodson Thomas Harrison John Claypott Paul Kauster Abner Wiseman Robt. Harrison Joh. Domey James Spinks Josiah Moore Hugh Kennedy Hezekiah (Bonkon?) Jessie Veach Michael Humble Reason Benton Hercules Hawkins John Hartford Jas. Haughter Daniel Carrole Edward Teffin Richd. Johnson Wm. Armistead John Hackaday Wm. Williamson John Christian Robt. Drake Stephen Wilson Benja. Willett Isaac Moore John Schooley Benja. (Has?) Francis Hereford John Littlejohn Benja. (Shreve?)

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John Davenport Saml. B. Harris Thos. Ocean Charles Hewlit Jos. Dobby Goe. Hite Lewis Duckwell Philip Clover Ambrose Clark James Hedges Thomas Hale Presley Boydston Alexr. Lenierr Jo. Franklin Jr. Enoch Martin Benja. Welsh (?vJos.) Hare Wm. Heil Moses? Harlan James Baley Richard Barrett Robt. Haines Robt. Evans

John Turner Elijah Phelps Jho. Granthan John Bond James Daveion James Laurence James Law Thos. Halladay Stephen Harlin Jessie Harlan Benja. (Boydston?) Ralph Potter Baid Cross Hezekiah Stephens Nathl. Mulliner Edwd. Frojatt? Evan Rogers Richd. Ridgeway Joseph Smith John Cowgill Isaac(?) Smith John Ellis Samuel Pleasants

Edward Tiffin James Lee Henry Smith Geo. Reed (Obscured) Frum Peter McMahon Wm. Ambrose Michel Gray J(? no). Bailey Joshua Hodges John Welsh Jr. Lindsey Marshall Wm. Lemon John Murphy George Manual James Hood Jonathon Wright Edward Beeson Nathal. White Jr. Wm. Supton David (Faulhaus?) John Witt James Wood

Thornton Fleming Robert Carter Robert Lowe Thos. Taylor Abner Golet Aaron Dolby Nicholas Stovin Fredk. Duckwell John Butter John Hite Saml. J. Welsh Michael Porter Thos. Curry Solomon Chaffis Joseph Gee Jonas Hodges Jur. Jas. Mendenhall Abraham Branson Joseph Bond Isaac Brown Saml.(Lupton?) Robert Pleasants

John Steed William Hite Geo. Bruce (Meneios?) Ellis Jos. P. Clutter Jos. Fletcher John Fennis Charles Robinson Wm. Mereir Joseph Hedges Joseph Fohman Richd. Swift John Franklin Jacob Fletcher Solomon Chalsen Abel Walker Nathl. White Sr. David Ross Nathan Haines Stephen McBride John Mc. (Harrison?) James Lownes

Anthony Hall Joseph Hite James Wall Saml. Smith James Crumbley John Knott Joseph Duckwell John Barlaw John Dougherty John Vinsanheller Thos. Boydston Joseph Stone Jo. Franklin Thos. Perkin Christian Bloom John Antrein Wm. Mc. Phirson Danl. Brown Saml. Finish Lewis Walker Joseph (?)