.MTUxNQ.MTA5NzM

TO THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MAINE

The undersigned inhabitants of the Town of North Manmouth respectfully represent that the District of Columbia, the territory ceded by the State of Maryland and Virginia to the United States, for the seat of its General Government, is the mart of a Slave-trade as atrocious as any which has ever disgraced human society. Notwithstanding Congress has the right, by Federal Constitution, to abolish Slavery and the slave-trade within said District; notwithstanding the people of the non-slave holding states have a common interest in the jurisdiction of said District, yet Slave Factories are established at the very seat of Government; where slaves are constantly collecting from the neigh- boring States, and therefore regularly shipped in cargoes, or sent in droves to the remote South. Thus the District of Columbia is made one of the greatest slave markets in the world.

The public prisons of the U.S., maintained by the people of Maine as truly as by those of any other State, are made use of by the Slave Dealer, to store the victims of the American slave-trade.

The guilt of tolerating these enormities rests upon the whole American people, and on every individual, who will not exert himself to remove them.

Although Congress has the power of legislation on this subject, yet it is impossible that it will ever exercise this power until the people, of the several States require it.

Your Petitioners do not consider it necessary to offer any considerations to show that slavery and the slave-trade are inhuman and unjust -- hostile to the natural and inalienable rights of man -- and inconsistent with permanent prosperity, and national honor; -- since your Honors are doubtless already fully aware, how the traffic in our fellow-men, is estimated by the Christian and civilized world.

Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honorable body would instruct the senators and request the Representatives, in Congress from the State of Maine, to use all proper means to effect the entire abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia; and as in duty bound will ever pray.

[2 columns of signatures divided by a central vertical line] John N Gooken Samuel C Loring Andrew Noyes Samuel Chadborne John Haskell Nathan Hampton Rufus A Chase Jacob Hayes Jun. Jacob Loring John Hayes John Staples Sebah Bruce Reuben Mayfield William Hamilton jun. Larrabee Harris David S Marshall Rufus Bachelder David Parsons John Marston John G. Herrick Samuel Herrick David Hayes Samuel Sargent Levi Hayes Edward G Buxton Samuel S Hayes Thomas Chase Otis C Mitchell Jeremiah Buxton Benaiah Titcomb Barnebus Sherman Jacob Hayes Amos Osgood William Hamilton Jacob Chase Nehemiah Lufkin Jeremiah Loring Jr Arnariah Delano Alfred M Hayes David S [?] Daniel Staples Benjamin Cote Reuel West Sam'l Bacon Joseph Hayes Nathaniel Bacon Joseph Hayes Jr Stephen Porter Wendell Hamilton John Hamilton Jeremiah Loring Jacob B. Lufkin David Y Loring