Petition of the People of Colour
Dublin Core
Title
Petition of the People of Colour
Contributor
Iyanna Armwood
TJ
Source
Jones, Absalom. “Petition of the People of Colour.” Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Second ed., vol. 1, Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2014, pp. 577–578.
Creator
Absalom Jones
Publisher
Belasco, Susan, and Linck Johnson. Bedford Anthology of American Literature. Second ed., vol. 1, Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2014.
Date
December 30, 1799
Format
Print
Type
Petition
Subject
Petition of the People of Colour
Description
The Petition of the People of Colour is an actual petition created by Absalom Jones on December 30, 1799 in reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. The Act, in small terms, was put in place for slave owners to go into any state, especially Northern free states, in order to retrieve their runaway slave. Also, anyone who saw the runaway slave from an ad is required to return the slave to the rightful owner. The petition stated that the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 is unfair to both free black men and enslaved blacks because free ones could be mistaken for runaway slaves resulting in being returned to slavery.
The petition also references the First Amendment and the Declaration of Independence to further prove his point that all men are created equal and should be treated as so. The two documents never reference Blacks in particular; however, that adds to Jones belief of granting liberty and protection to any American regardless of skin color.
Jones addressed this petition to the President, Senate, and House of Representatives. He does this as opposed to just putting it in the newspaper or making a rally for it. This shows the need to take out the middle man and go straight to those who have power instead. It also shows how serious this concern that representatives both on the states and national level need to be aware and intervene.
Even with 72 signatures on the petition, it was lost in debate and neve brought up again.
The petition also references the First Amendment and the Declaration of Independence to further prove his point that all men are created equal and should be treated as so. The two documents never reference Blacks in particular; however, that adds to Jones belief of granting liberty and protection to any American regardless of skin color.
Jones addressed this petition to the President, Senate, and House of Representatives. He does this as opposed to just putting it in the newspaper or making a rally for it. This shows the need to take out the middle man and go straight to those who have power instead. It also shows how serious this concern that representatives both on the states and national level need to be aware and intervene.
Even with 72 signatures on the petition, it was lost in debate and neve brought up again.
Coverage
This petition covers artifacts from a range of dates; however, the petition is mainly against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. In other words, this item covers 1793-1799.
Language
English
Identifier
Petition of 1799
Relation
Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
Portrait of Absalom Jones
Thanksgiving sermon
Map of Mason Dixon Line
Rights
Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Collection Items
There are currently no items within this collection.