To the Honourable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Tennessee

The Memorial of the Manumission Society sheweth that this Society, extensive and Rapidly growing, is entirely composed of Inhabitants of this State; and has for its object the melioration of the condition of persons in bondage, by whatever lawful and prudent means the good of all concerned may be secured and protected.

We most cordially ______ the declaration of independence; and hold these truths to be self evident; "that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

We believe that God has made of one blood all conditions of men to dwell upon the face of the earth; that he looks down with an equal eye upon them all; that he is pleased when they do to others as they would be done unto in similar circumstances; and that he must be displeased when any disregard this rule.

We cannot suppose that having given to all men rational and immortal minds, he intended the difference of of [sic] colour in our species, either as the brand of Slavery or the title to Oppression:  we rather view it as a providential trial of our hearts; to prove what is in us.

When, therefore, we consider the depressed condition of many in our land, we fully agree with the remark of one of our late Presidents in his notes on Virginia.  "We tremble to reflect, that God is just; and that in a more than possible extremity we know not what Attribute of his nature could take part with us."

We are confident that nations, states and individuals prosper by righteousness, as they cannot by any other means; and that their unrighteousness only brings down the judgments of God upon them with unfailing certainty.

We are persuaded that to bring up children in the expectation of possessing as property the servants who wait upon them, is to train them to Oppression and tyranny; to indolence and vice; and to prevent the eternal principles of justice, benevolence and mercy from taking proper hold on their hearts.

We beleive [sic] also, that slavery tends, on the other hand, to debase the minds of its subjects; and unfits the rational creatures of God for the nobel duties that he requires at their hands.

In this enlightened age these obvious facts are generally admitted with expressions of lamentation that they exist.  It is highly gratifying to reflect, that the United States in their late treaty of Peace with Great Britain, not only condemns the traffic in Slaves as irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and justice, but engages likewise to use their best endeavours to promote its entire abolition.

We take encouragement to hope that every State Legislature will act upon the same principle; and that our own State in particular will feel a noble ambition early to manifest their forwardness in so good a work.

We are confident that the population, Strength, Wealth, Independence, morality, respectability and happiness of the State will be promoted by an agreement between the spirit of our laws, and the above mentioned article of the late treaty.

Under these impresions we beg leave respectfully to solicit your most serious attention to such petitions on the subject as may be laid before your Honourable Body; and that Laws may be past prohibiting slaves from being brought into the State under any pretext whatever; for while ever, the law leaves it lawful on any account, advantage will be taken to bring them in and drive them out to any extent; and thus a lawless disposition be gotten and fostered.

Your memorialists are of Opinion, that everything that would cherish republicanism in the bosom of the people of this State is worthy of Legislative support; and whatever would blunt or erase the sacred sentiments of liberty from their hearts ought to be suppressed.

The practice of driving slaves, which is often done in Irons, on our great roads, through our streets, and before the eyes of our children, is calculated to produce sentiments and feelings directly hostile to true republicanism; and is a crime of such black hue, as in the estimation of your memorialists, is worthy to be declared a felony and punished accordingly.

Your memorialists beg your attention to the propriety of proposing effectual legislative authority to prevent husbands and wives, Parents and children from being so sold as to separate them entirely or unreasonably.  We believe your body, composed of men the choice of free men, will readily perceive that the cause of humanity will be greatly promoted by regulating the food, clothing, lodging, labour and correction of slaves by law.

There is but one other subject to which we now solicit your honourable body; namely, that the good people of this state be permitted to emancipate the slaves of an age and state of health capable of providing a living without restraint or hazard of any kind.  We belive that just and equitable laws on these points, such as you in your wisdom may enact, will greatly diminish the existing evils of slavery.

Signed on behalf of the Society by,

____ Jones, _____
___________ Clk

Joseph Pendleton [appears to be the author]
Isaac Anderson
Aaron Coppock
W^m Hartt
Jonathan Young
Jacob Roberts
James Roberts
Samuel Brazelton
Philip Babb
Isaiah Harrison
John Coulson
Members of the s^d Convention held ___^th Aug^t 1817.