Thomas C. Jenner, John P. M. Cormick, Jr., Theron N. Hudson, C. T. Messenger, A. Garrison, J. B. Messinger, Charles Thompson, P. Leonard, Quincey S. Brown, Edward Lowe, M. Nagle, I. P. Ladd, G. Stein, H. Hewitt, D. Ammerman, G. Lowe, H. Stimson, John Allett, D. O. Thorp, Charles Marks, Peter Sterling, H. Cook, Clark F. Nickols, Joseph King, T. Clifford, Arthur Kingsbury, J. H. Kirby, Philip Tettenberger, D. O. Burton, Farl Thayer, Geo. D. Smith, T. C. Jones. Layfayette Nickols, E. B. Fox, L. Sage. H. S. Mawson, John Laden, Lewis Zimmerman, Dudley M. Dunn, Abner Stiltson, Jarvis Sperry, Chauncy Jones, William Briggs, Samuel Thompson, Manson Larkin, George Swan, David McCreery, Edwin H. Parks, Sylsbue Kurney, Harman Ross, James Egleston, John Egleston, John Warner, Samuel Howard, jr., H. Grover, James Caskey, Tester Bairo, Justus Fox, Jemes C. Symonds, Riley Thompson, Huron Savan, Henry W. Durand, Plorida Hinton, [ No. 24.] PETITION of Curtis Emerson, Seth C. Beech, and 91 others, praying that colored people in this State be admitted to all the privileges of free white citizens. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan: We the undersigned, believing that taxation and representation are twin sisters and ought of right to go hand in hand. So believed the For said they: illustrious men that laid the foundation of the Republic. "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Therefore, we the undersigned, believing that the laws of this State, regulating the elective franchise, draw an odious and invidious distinction between the tax payers of said State solely and entirely on account of their peculiar and God-given complexion, for which they are not and should not be held responsible. For the above stated reasons they have been cut off from all participation in the body politic, while they have been compelled to pay their taxes as a citizen, without enjoying the political immunities, rights and privileges of a citizen. Believing said laws to be anti-republican, unjust and oppressive, and we would pray you to take measures for submitting the question to the people at their next State election. Joseph Lawrence, G. A. Hulbert, G. O. Walker, Wm. P. Mason, S. S. Fall, I. L. T. Fox, John Ryan, J. E. Voorhies, O. P. Burt, B. B. Buckhart, Nelson Whiting, D. G. Holland, Wm. J. Loveland, D. Parke, N. Garner, Alex. English, C. T. Disbrow, C. O. Garrison, R. H. Steele, Thomas Lean, James S. Campbell, Curte Emerson, Wm. C. Bowyer, G. Carter, J. T. Brown, Kasper Braden, F. Rochler, Henry Newrich, T. Van Antwerp, A. J. Phillips, Wm. H. Beach, T. Deikman, M. L. Gay, I. S. Centes, S. C. Beach, J. H. Springes, E. P. H. Whitcomb, A. Ferguson, S. C. Newton. |