Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-07-26
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
A Petition.

Mr. William p. Powell a colored gentleman
of wealth and rcspectablity in New York City
has resolved to remove to England in order t
escape the influence of prejudice upon his chill
dron and family. Before leaving, he offered
mcrritcd and cutting rcbuke to the injustice o
his fellow citizens which compelled his expatria'
ton, by forwarding the following petition to the
Legislature of New York. Had it been fol
permission to cmigrate to Liberia, he would
doubtless have obtained hearing and an ap-
preparation.
From the Anti Slavery Standard.
TO non. II. @. ALLEN.
DEAR Sin PLEASE present this petition
aud advocate its reception, and obligc your
constituent, and twelve years resident ofthe
4th Ward.
WILLIAM Z. POWELL.
New YORK. July Z, 1851.
MEMORIAL.
TO The Honorable The Senate and House of rs
semby ofHe State Of .Nsic York CoRuened:
Your memorialist an inhabitant of the city
and county of New York, and citizen of the
State aforesaid represents.
That hc is the Grandson of ELIZABETH
BARJoNA, one of the many lleroines who,
during the. Revolutionary war with Great
Britain, rendered aiG aud comfort to the re-
bells OF the first Continental Congress, that
when these patriots were driven from one
State to another, and when large rewards
were offered for their persons dead or alive,
and when il was declared penal offence,
punishable with death, for any person to aid,
assist or even to give them morsel of
bread or drink of water, struggling as they
were for national independence from British
rule, your petitioners Grandmother, the said
Elizabeth Bariona did in the capacity of
Cook to the said Congress, carefully and re-
gularly supply to the members thereof every
possible luxury which in those days of dark
ness and despair could be procured aud
your memorialist feels therefore that his ven
cradle reutiye though AN humble was an
important instrument in the deliberations of
that body. 1t is not for your mcmoriulist to
remind your honorable body of how much
the mind depends upon the wholesome, Wig
orous condition ofits dwelling-place, nor to
polnt out TO you the disastrous consequences
which might have ensued had not they eat
en- and drunken and been daily filed with
the good things of this life, whereby the
strength was given them to conceive, sign
and proclaim to the world the great and no.
bic truths Of the American Declaration of In
dependence, "that all men are created free
and equal and are entitled to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" and your petition
or further sheweth that Notwithstanding his
grandmother did directly and indirectly con-
tribute all her youthful energies to cement
the Union Of the States," yet the States OF
the Union" have violated the contract, Sc
curing LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS TO all persons without regard TO
the color of their skin. And your petitioner
further shewelh that, his father EDWARD
POWELL was held a Stare for life by the laws
oiNew York, whereby your petitioner was
deprived Off HOME and of n ./ather's protec-
ton; and your petitioner further sheweth
that, owing to the preiudices, customs, and
usaSes OF the people Of this State and of the
Union, that 1t is impossible for him though
freed from the disabilities which weighed
upon his father, TO give his own children, of
whom he has large family, that education
and to secure to them those opportunities
for u livelihood and respectable position in
society, to which, ms human beings, and as
American Citizens they are entitled.
Now in view of all these facts above sta
''Ni W. wow vi lllul, Oilb
OF the Legislature did enact bill this ses-
sion appropriating monies from the State
Treasury TO aid colored persons emigratng
from this country; which bill was lost in the
Senate, your petitioner respectfully asks
your honorable body to appropriate by spe-
cial act---Dollurs which will enable him
TO emigrate with his family from this coun-
try, which denies to him and them tile rights
guaranteed by the Declaration of Independ-
ence, in which he has as above shown so
great hereditary interest, to the Kingdom
of Great Britain, where character and not
color-capacty and not complexion, are the
tests of merit; and your petitioner will ever
pray, &c.
WILLIAM p. POWELL.
New York, July 9Th, 1851.