Page:From Anne Warren Weston to Deborah Weston; Monday, July 30, 1838.pdf/3

Rh I reasoned from Dr Sweetser that the best thing that can be done for incipient consumption is to stay most of the time in the open air This I do which occupies a great deal of the day which may account for any nonsewing. Mr Lindsay called this morning &amp; left the enclosed note. The baby will try you I doubt not, ever (?) Love to all.

Tell Aunt M. I have not got over my disappointment yet.

I have used your collar so you can take mine.

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The undersigned ______ of ______ in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having read with great pleasure, the resolution of your honorable bodies, the last year, declaring—

'That Congress, having exclusive legislation in the District of Columbia, possess the right to abolish slavery in said District, and that its exercise should only be restrained by a regard to the public good;'—believing also, that to 'establish justice ** and secure the blessings of liberty,' are among the great ends for which the Federal Government was instituted; that whenever it or any government 'becomes destructive of these ends,' to all or any portion of 'the people,' it so far fails to answer the purposes and secure the ends of all good government; and finally, that the idea of promoting 'the public good' by the continuance of injustice and oppression is a contradiction in terms: do therefore respectfully and earnestly pray your honorable bodies, without delay,
 * 1) To reaffirm the Constitutional right of Congress to abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia.
 * 2) To declare that Congress has also the Constitutional right to abolish the Slave-trade in the District.
 * 3) To declare that the rights of humanity, the claims of justice, the honor of the nation, and 'the public good,' alike demand, that in each of these respects, Congress should immediately exercise said right.
 * 4) To send a copy of said declarations to each of the Senators and Representatives of this State, in Congress, to be, by them, laid before that body; and to each of the Governors of the several States, to be, by them, laid before their respective Legislatures.
 * 5) To instruct or request the Senators and Representatives of this State, in Congress, to use their utmost influence to effect an immediate and total abolition of Slavery and the Slave-trade in said District of Columbia