I then proceeded to get up a petition to the Legislature. It required
much hard labor and persuasion on my part to start it; but after that, I
readily obtained the signatures of the principal men in the place.--Then I
went round to the members, many of whom were known to me, calling upon
them at their rooms, and urging them for my sake, for humanity's sake, for
the sake of my wife and little ones, whose hopes had been excited by the
idea that they were even now free; I appealed to them as husbands,
fathers, brothers, sons, to vote in favor of my petition, and allow me to
remain in the State long enough to purchase my family. I was doing well in
business, and it would be but a short time before I could accomplish the
object. Then, if it was desired, I and my wife and children, redeemed from
bondage, would together seek a more friendly home, beyond the dominion of
slavery. The following is the petition presented, endorsed as the reader
will see:
_To the Hon. General Assembly of the State of North Carolina.
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