Difference between revisions of "Anti-Slavery Petition of 1795"
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| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
Augustine Davis<br /> | Augustine Davis<br /> | ||
Joseph Harding<br /> | Joseph Harding<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. (Rufred?)<br /> | |
| − | + | Tho<sup>s</sup>. T. Bates<br /> | |
Joseph A. Myers<br /> | Joseph A. Myers<br /> | ||
Reuben Harrison<br /> | Reuben Harrison<br /> | ||
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
John Ferguson<br /> | John Ferguson<br /> | ||
(Row obscured)<br /> | (Row obscured)<br /> | ||
| − | + | Ja<sup>s</sup>. Moore<br /> | |
Nicholas Walder<br /> | Nicholas Walder<br /> | ||
George Wymer<br /> | George Wymer<br /> | ||
Joseph Pinnell<br /> | Joseph Pinnell<br /> | ||
Joseph Porter<br /> | Joseph Porter<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. Wall<br /> | |
Reuben Finnell<br /> | Reuben Finnell<br /> | ||
James Moore<br /> | James Moore<br /> | ||
Carr Waller<br /> | Carr Waller<br /> | ||
John Parrish<br /> | John Parrish<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Ratcliff<br /> | |
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Shelburn<br /> | |
Lewellin Spencer<br /> | Lewellin Spencer<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Weathers<br /> | |
Charles Talley<br /> | Charles Talley<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Gover<br /> | |
(Barenil?) Hough<br /> | (Barenil?) Hough<br /> | ||
Thomas Moore<br /> | Thomas Moore<br /> | ||
| Line 73: | Line 73: | ||
J. Darmdale<br /> | J. Darmdale<br /> | ||
J. Heron<br /> | J. Heron<br /> | ||
| − | + | Tho<sup>s</sup>. Barnett<br /> | |
John Lyre<br /> | John Lyre<br /> | ||
| − | + | Arch<sup>d</sup>. Pleasant<br /> | |
Hugh French<br /> | Hugh French<br /> | ||
John Welch<br /> | John Welch<br /> | ||
| Line 81: | Line 81: | ||
Jacob Chauster<br /> | Jacob Chauster<br /> | ||
Jarold Wiseman<br /> | Jarold Wiseman<br /> | ||
| − | + | Rob<sup>t</sup>. Rutherford<br /> | |
James Brown<br /> | James Brown<br /> | ||
John Deaning<br /> | John Deaning<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Myer<br /> | |
George (Hir?)<br /> | George (Hir?)<br /> | ||
Shepherd Collins<br /> | Shepherd Collins<br /> | ||
| Line 91: | Line 91: | ||
William Gains<br /> | William Gains<br /> | ||
William Wright<br /> | William Wright<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Keyes<br /> | |
S.D. Haricman<br /> | S.D. Haricman<br /> | ||
Lawrence Manfield<br /> | Lawrence Manfield<br /> | ||
| Line 97: | Line 97: | ||
Manfield B. Wood<br /> | Manfield B. Wood<br /> | ||
Richard Rix<br /> | Richard Rix<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. Brown<br /> | |
Jade Williams<br /> | Jade Williams<br /> | ||
| − | + | Tho<sup>j</sup>. Crenshaw<br /> | |
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Mitchener<br /> | |
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Murray<br /> | |
Isaac Thompson<br /> | Isaac Thompson<br /> | ||
George Gregg<br /> | George Gregg<br /> | ||
| Line 115: | Line 115: | ||
[[William DuVal]]<br /> | [[William DuVal]]<br /> | ||
John Stagg<br /> | John Stagg<br /> | ||
| − | + | Geo. Clopton<br /> | |
John Stewart<br /> | John Stewart<br /> | ||
Robert McCartney<br /> | Robert McCartney<br /> | ||
J. Pryor<br /> | J. Pryor<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Fontaine<br /> | |
Hale Sharp<br /> | Hale Sharp<br /> | ||
John Andrews<br /> | John Andrews<br /> | ||
| Line 126: | Line 126: | ||
Joseph Mitter<br /> | Joseph Mitter<br /> | ||
Frederick Honaker<br /> | Frederick Honaker<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Bryan<br /> | |
Joseph Lair<br /> | Joseph Lair<br /> | ||
Elliot Rutherford<br /> | Elliot Rutherford<br /> | ||
| Line 135: | Line 135: | ||
Samuel Weeks<br /> | Samuel Weeks<br /> | ||
Enos Tail<br /> | Enos Tail<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. Pinnell<br /> | |
Richard Parks<br /> | Richard Parks<br /> | ||
John Hutt<br /> | John Hutt<br /> | ||
| Line 144: | Line 144: | ||
John Saunders<br /> | John Saunders<br /> | ||
Edmond Cole<br /> | Edmond Cole<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Ellis<br /> | |
Emward Wilkinson<br /> | Emward Wilkinson<br /> | ||
| − | + | Will<sup>m</sup>. Clayton<br /> | |
Joseph Smith<br /> | Joseph Smith<br /> | ||
Joseph Jenny<br /> | Joseph Jenny<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Barnes<br /> | |
Isaac Siddal<br /> | Isaac Siddal<br /> | ||
Thomas Smith<br /> | Thomas Smith<br /> | ||
Samuel Thompson<br /> | Samuel Thompson<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Donahue<br /> | |
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| Line 159: | Line 159: | ||
| | | | ||
| − | + | Jam<sup>s</sup>. Tyler<br /> | |
| − | + | Anthy. Singleton<br /> | |
| − | + | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pleasants Rob<sup>t</sup>. Pleasants Ju<sup>r</sup>.]<br /> | |
[[John Marshall]]<br /> | [[John Marshall]]<br /> | ||
William Dabney<br /> | William Dabney<br /> | ||
Jackson Frayser<br /> | Jackson Frayser<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Parsons<br /> | |
| − | + | Alex<sup>r</sup>. Buchanan<br /> | |
Ebenezar Maul<br /> | Ebenezar Maul<br /> | ||
Daniel Butter<br /> | Daniel Butter<br /> | ||
David Bullock<br /> | David Bullock<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. McKee<br /> | |
Andrew Muirhead<br /> | Andrew Muirhead<br /> | ||
Michael Bachar<br /> | Michael Bachar<br /> | ||
| Line 176: | Line 176: | ||
William Gray<br /> | William Gray<br /> | ||
Archer Rutherford<br /> | Archer Rutherford<br /> | ||
| − | Josiah Shipman | + | Josiah Shipman Ju<sup>r</sup>.<br /> |
John Stephen<br /> | John Stephen<br /> | ||
John J. Woodick<br /> | John J. Woodick<br /> | ||
| Line 182: | Line 182: | ||
John Weeks<br /> | John Weeks<br /> | ||
John Hickman<br /> | John Hickman<br /> | ||
| − | + | Will<sup>m</sup>. Pinnell<br /> | |
Byron Mcgreath<br /> | Byron Mcgreath<br /> | ||
Thomas Benton<br /> | Thomas Benton<br /> | ||
| Line 190: | Line 190: | ||
Edward T. Rowgee<br /> | Edward T. Rowgee<br /> | ||
John Roper<br /> | John Roper<br /> | ||
| − | + | Tho<sup>s</sup>. Cowler<br /> | |
John Pierce<br /> | John Pierce<br /> | ||
James Hill<br /> | James Hill<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Stabler<br /> | |
Francis Hague<br /> | Francis Hague<br /> | ||
Mahlon Jenny<br /> | Mahlon Jenny<br /> | ||
| Line 199: | Line 199: | ||
John Hough<br /> | John Hough<br /> | ||
John Hollingsworth<br /> | John Hollingsworth<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Aniby<br /> | |
Livan Powell<br /> | Livan Powell<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| Line 209: | Line 209: | ||
Henry (Hath?)<br /> | Henry (Hath?)<br /> | ||
James Binford<br /> | James Binford<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. Lewis<br /> | |
William Lawrence<br /> | William Lawrence<br /> | ||
Joseph Butter<br /> | Joseph Butter<br /> | ||
| − | + | Tho<sup>s</sup>. Nicholson<br /> | |
Adam Craig<br /> | Adam Craig<br /> | ||
B. Rawlings<br /> | B. Rawlings<br /> | ||
Thomas Carneal<br /> | Thomas Carneal<br /> | ||
Matthew Woodson<br /> | Matthew Woodson<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Hughes<br /> | |
Stephen Ruddill<br /> | Stephen Ruddill<br /> | ||
| − | + | Rich<sup>d</sup>. Hughes<br /> | |
Morgan Bryan<br /> | Morgan Bryan<br /> | ||
Michael Waring<br /> | Michael Waring<br /> | ||
William Dunnavan<br /> | William Dunnavan<br /> | ||
| − | J. Shipman | + | J. Shipman Sen<sup>r</sup>.<br /> |
Jacob Myer<br /> | Jacob Myer<br /> | ||
B. Tilden<br /> | B. Tilden<br /> | ||
John Hickman<br /> | John Hickman<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Jenkins<br /> | |
| − | + | Ja<sup>s</sup>. Sam<sup>l</sup>. Wright<br /> | |
| − | + | Dan<sup>l</sup>. Field<br /> | |
John Thornhill<br /> | John Thornhill<br /> | ||
James Robertson<br /> | James Robertson<br /> | ||
| − | + | Tho<sup>s</sup>. Maddox<br /> | |
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Thomas<br /> | |
John West<br /> | John West<br /> | ||
Richard Pope<br /> | Richard Pope<br /> | ||
| Line 242: | Line 242: | ||
Joseph Beale<br /> | Joseph Beale<br /> | ||
Isaac Harris<br /> | Isaac Harris<br /> | ||
| − | + | Sam<sup>l</sup>. Haugh<br /> | |
John Hirsh<br /> | John Hirsh<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Hough<br /> | |
Joseph Wood<br /> | Joseph Wood<br /> | ||
Nathaniel Stephens<br /> | Nathaniel Stephens<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Hartshorn,<br /> | |
Abraham Gilpin<br /> | Abraham Gilpin<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| Line 254: | Line 254: | ||
| | | | ||
John Barrit<br /> | John Barrit<br /> | ||
| − | Isaac | + | Isaac Younghusband<br /> |
| − | + | Cha<sup>s</sup>. Copland<br /> | |
(Lain?) J Johnson<br /> | (Lain?) J Johnson<br /> | ||
| − | + | Ro. Gambler<br /> | |
John Butter<br /> | John Butter<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Carter (Sr.?)<br /> | |
| − | + | Rob<sup>t</sup>. Langley<br /> | |
John Harris<br /> | John Harris<br /> | ||
James Ferguson<br /> | James Ferguson<br /> | ||
| Line 268: | Line 268: | ||
Paul Kauster<br /> | Paul Kauster<br /> | ||
Abner Wiseman<br /> | Abner Wiseman<br /> | ||
| − | + | Rob<sup>t</sup>. Harrison<br /> | |
| − | + | Jo<sup>h</sup>. Domey<br /> | |
James Spinks<br /> | James Spinks<br /> | ||
Josiah Moore<br /> | Josiah Moore<br /> | ||
| Line 279: | Line 279: | ||
Hercules Hawkins<br /> | Hercules Hawkins<br /> | ||
John Hartford<br /> | John Hartford<br /> | ||
| − | + | Ja<sup>s</sup>. Haughter<br /> | |
Daniel Carrole<br /> | Daniel Carrole<br /> | ||
Edward Teffin<br /> | Edward Teffin<br /> | ||
| − | + | Rich<sup>d</sup>. Johnson<br /> | |
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Armistead<br /> | |
John Hackaday<br /> | John Hackaday<br /> | ||
| − | + | W<sup>m</sup>. Williamson<br /> | |
John Christian<br /> | John Christian<br /> | ||
| − | + | Rob<sup>t</sup>. Drake<br /> | |
Stephen Wilson<br /> | Stephen Wilson<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. Willett<br /> | |
Isaac Moore<br /> | Isaac Moore<br /> | ||
John Schooley<br /> | John Schooley<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. (Has?)<br /> | |
Francis Hereford<br /> | Francis Hereford<br /> | ||
John Littlejohn<br /> | John Littlejohn<br /> | ||
| − | + | Benj<sup>a</sup>. (Shreve?)<br /> | |
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
Revision as of 12:47, 3 February 2016
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).
Page two
ages; to (inform?) their instruction to Read (??) 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.
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David Meade
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John Harvie
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James Warrington
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Jams. Tyler
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Alexander Campbell
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John Barrit |
Page four
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John Davenport
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John Turner
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Edward Tiffin
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Thornton Fleming
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John Steed
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Anthony Hall |
