Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, circa 24–26 March 1844, Orson Hyde Copy
Source Note
JS, Memorial, , Hancock Co., IL, to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, [], ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844. Version copied [between 25 and ca. 30 Apr. 1844]; handwriting of ; docket in unidentified handwriting; four pages; JS Collection, CHL.
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the in Congress assembled.—
Your memorialist, a free born Citizen of these respectfully sheweth; that from his infancy, his soul has been filled with the most intense and philanthropic interest for the welfare of his native ;— and being fired with an ardor which floods cannot quench, crowns cannot conquer, nor diplomatic intrigue corrupt, to see those principles which emanated from the bosoms of the fathers of Seventy Six, and which cost the noblest talents and richest blood of the maintained inviolate and perpetuated to future generations; and the proud eagle of American freedom soar triumphant over every party prejudice and local sinistry; and spread her golden pinions over every member of the human family, who shall stretch forth their hands for succor from the Lion’s paw, or the oppressor’s grasp, and firmly trusting in the God of liberty, that he has designed universal peace and good-will, Union and brotherly love to all the great family of Man.
Your memorialist asks your honorable body to pass the following ordinance <act>
An ordinance <act> for the protection of the citizens of the emigrating to the adjoining territories, and for the extension of the principles of universal liberty.
Preamble
Whereas many of the citizens of these have migrated and are still migrating to , and other lands contigious to this ; And whereas has declared herself free and independent, without the necessary power to protect her rights and liberties: And whereas is without any organized government, and those who emigrate thither are exposed to foreign invasion and domestic feuds: And whereas the by geographic location and discovery more rightly belongs to these than to any other general government: And whereas <it is necessary that> the emigrants of the [p. [1]]