body to
carry.

This petition marks a stage of public opinion in the history of
slavery, and also in the suppression of the rebellion. As it is
short I will read it:

"TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES:

"The undersigned, women of the United States above the age of
eighteen years, earnestly pray that your honorable body will pass
at the earliest practicable day an act emancipating all persons
of African descent held to involuntary service or labor in the
United States."

There is also a duplicate of this petition signed by "men above
the age of eighteen years."

It will be perceived that the petition is in rolls. Each roll
represents a State.[44] For instance, here is New York with a
list of seventeen thousand seven hundred and six names; Illinois
with fifteen thousand three hundred and eighty; and Massachusetts
with eleven thousand six hundred and forty-one. These several
petitions are consolidated into one petition, being another
illustration of the motto on our coin--_E pluribus unum_.

This petition is signed by one hundred thousand men and women,
who unite in this unparalleled number to support its prayer. They
are from all parts of the country and from every condition of
life. They are from the sea-board, fanned by the free airs of the
ocean, and from the Mississippi and the prairies of the West,
fanned by the free airs which fertilize that extensive region.
They are from the families of the educated and uneducated, rich
and poor, of every profession, business, and calling in life,
representing every sentiment, thought, hope, passion, activity,
intelligence which inspires, strengthens, and adorns our social
system. Here they are, a mighty army, one hundred thousand
strong, without arms or banners; the advance-guard of a yet
larger army.

But though memorable for their numbers, these petitioners are
more memorable still for the prayer in which they unite. They ask
nothing less than universal emancipation; and this they ask
directly at the hands of Congress. No reason is assigned. The
prayer speaks for itself. It is simple, positive. So far as it
proceeds from the women of the country, it is naturally a
petition, and not an argument. But I need not remind the Senate
that there is