natural rights, and forcibly held in bondage;--we think it our duty to
address you, as men, fellow citizens, and brethren, and earnestly to
request your attention to the means of avoiding the evils naturally
resulting from the above mentioned unhappy circumstances.

The first step which we take the liberty of suggesting to you, is an
entire prohibition of all traffic in slaves, between your state and
every other nation or state, either by importation or exportation: This
is the first and principal object of our memorial--an object which we
the more earnestly recommend to your attention, as we are informed that
the law of your state, prohibiting the importation of slaves, will
expire sometime in March next.

In considering this subject, many methods of conciliating the
affections of this unfortunate people, and preparing them for that
state in society upon which depends our political happiness, suggest
themselves:--such as, an amelioration of their condition and a
diffusion of knowledge among them. But, as nothing can be effectual
while the number of slaves may be daily increased by importation, and
while the minds of our citizens are debased, and their hearts hardened,
by contemplating these people only through the medium of avarice or
prejudice (a necessary consequence of the traffic in man) we confine
the prayer of this petition to the total prohibition of all traffic in
slaves, between your state and every other nation or state, either by
importation or exportation; which we respectfully solicit you to grant,
having full confidence, that, independant of other considerations, you
will see the evident policy of the measure.

* * * * *

The committee, appointed to consider whether any, and what, amendments
appear necessary in the act, passed by Congress, prohibiting the
carrying on the slave-trade to any foreign place or country, made
report as follows, _viz._

The committee, to whom was referred the consideration of the act of the
Congress of the United States, for prohibiting the traffic in slaves,
report,--

That, in their opinion, no amendment is necessary to the law in
question. It appears, to them, to prohibit the exportation of slaves
from America, for the purposes of traffic, or from any part of any
foreign country, whether a port, river, bay, or coast, to any other
foreign country. The generical term "place" certainly includes as well
the sea as the land; and it is, in sub