The advance of the Gunboats up the river to New Berne, N. Carolina. Passing the Barricade
Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Petition from Citizens of New York Asking that Slavery and the Slave-trade may be Expressly Prohibited by Act of Congress in all the Territories of the United States
- 3/25/1851
Description
Starting in the 1830s a small but growing movement advocated the abolition of slavery in the United States. After 1850 abolition’s appeal spread to those who feared slavery’s expansion into the territories. Abolitionists collected hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions to Congress, like this one from citizens of New York. As abolitionist agitation increased, Southern whites became increasingly outspoken in their defense of slavery.
Transcript
PETITION
For the Establishment and Protection of Freedom in the Territories of the Unitied States
To the Congress of the United States:
The undersigned, citizens and electors of the State of New York
residing in Covington & Perry, in the country of Wyoming, respectfully
pray that Slavery and the Slave-trade may be expressly prohibited by act of Congress in all the Territories of the United States.
Names Names
The initials designated the political parties to which the individual signers belong “W” Whig “D” Democract “A” Abolitionist
[Signatures]
Whigs 30
Democrats 15
Abolitionsts 6
Democrats 15
Abolitionsts 6
Petition of the Citizens and Electors of Wyoming County, N.Y.
for freedom in the Territories
March 16, 1851
March 16, 1851
Preston King
Committee on Territories
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 4534642
Full Citation: Petition from Citizens of New York Asking that Slavery and the Slave-trade may be Expressly Prohibited by Act of Congress in all the Territories of the United States; 3/25/1851; Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to the Committee on the Territories during the 31st Congress; Committee Papers, 1827–1946; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/petition-citizens-new-york-prohibit-slavery-and-slave-trade/, December 18, 2025]
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