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

    The undersigned inhabitants of the Towns of Fryeburg, Lovell + Sweden 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 Con- stitution, 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.

  tolerating these enormities rests upon the whole American people, and on every individu-

al, 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 incon- sistent with permanent prosperity, and national honor; -- wince 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 abo- lition 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]

Charles LeCone Hannah E Randall

                                                            Elaina Winship

Daniel B. Randall Martha Winship Francis Hamlin Betsy Hamlin David Stone Sarah Perkins Hiram Stone Elizabeth Blood James Moore Hannah Pray Sylvannus Eastman Elvia Eastman Joseph W Barker Elizabeth C Coffin Charles Pray Mehitabele Chandler Joseph Colby Mary Eastman Sam,l Emery Esther Heald Silas Heald Eliza C Jones Abraham A Barker Phebe Chandler Solomon Heald Betsy Chandler Isaac Eastman Sally McDonald Isaac Senter Mehitabele Pray Stephen Barker Mehitabele Stearns Adiron Hamlin Sarah F Stearns Nath,l Hutchins Abigail Milliken John Hamlin Sally Senter Nath,l Hutchins Jr Mary Hamlin Nathan A Bradbury Susan Woodbury James Warren Mary Hutchins V.R Farmington Betsy Derrin Calvin Hor Betsy Barker Ephraim Heald Mary H McIntire Oleid Stearns Sarah Charles Tim,o C Pray Mehitabele Dennis Daniel H Warren Mehitabele C M Kilgore J. B. Emerson Sarah A Andrews Israel Mills Harret Stone

                                                            Belinda J Pratt

Stephen Charles Sally Woodbury Stephen B Derrin Therese McLillan Josiah Heald Betsey Kimball Josiah Hor Sally Andrews James Stone Lucy Heald Benjamin Woodman Sally Stearns J C Chandler Susanne Eastman Andrew Woodbury Matilda E M Kilgore John Morrill Clerina Thompson Nathan A Bradbury Frances Hamlin Abram Andrew Jr Anne Colby Abel Heald Martha Hutchins Lem Kimball Sarah Andrews 47 Josiah Heald Jr Nancy K. Burrell Moses Kilgore Julia A. Burrell

                                                          Caroline A Burrell

John Hamlin Chloe Burrell James Elliot Benjamin Stearns Lucia N Griswold J. M. R. Farrington Hannah P Griswold Zalmon Pray Almah Page Simon F Andrews Betsey Colby James L. P. McAlister Mary Kelley Solomon Stearns Sarah Kelley Dan'l H Warren Hannah Hutchins Iraur[?] Eastman Mary Chase Jonah W. Barker Emma Chase Timothy Pray Mehitabele Roberts David Grumon[?] Sarah E Chase David S Stone Lydia Roberts John Eusong Hannah Roberts Thomas Souther Martha Emery Wm Johnston Caroline Wilder Samuel Ilsey[?] Louise Hurd Wm Hapgood Elaree Clark

                                                         Betsey Hurd

Nathan Small Roxana Bullard Isaac Osgood Lois Ballard Henry C Rusule Martha Whiting Elmer Haeve Anne [?] Barrows

                                                         Hannah Dana

Glenn Fessenden Rebecca Fessenden Samuel Kelly Anna R Fessenden John D Eastman Elisabeth C Fessenden Daniel Roberts Jr Louisa M Storer Oliver L Whitney Hildah P Fessenden Carlton Hunce