The petiton of inhabitance of Richmond County humbly sheweth ----- That your petitioners humbly conceive that the safety and defence of the Country in case of invasion or other assault made or intended against the state or states by a foreign or domsetic Enemy chiefly depends on a wise and good Military establishment ----And that the Militia form as heretofore established by law, and the mode in which it now stands, falls short infinitely of doing that justice answering the good purpose in so full and ample a manner as your Honors in your wisdom could devise. According to the Census returned to Congress Dec 1791, the number of all Free persons in the state of North Carolina was 2932793, and good number of slaves 100572_ So that a considerable number more than one fourth of the inhabitance of this state consists of useless persons for respect to the public defence which fill the place of such who otherwise would stand in the actual service and defense of the country. And that whereas the laws of the state doth virtually exempt persons holding slaves [from] bearing their proportion of defence. Men of affluence having much to be defended and much to defend with, yet called on for nothing more than those in the most indignent sircumstances, a consquence too sensibly felt by the poor, and which your petitioner humbly presumes to be a matter worthy your honors consideration ----And that when it may be expedient for the executive of this side to raise men by Draft for the defence of the Country ---your Honors in your wisdom will Enact and ordain that the persons in this state holding slaves to furnish a number of men for the service in the proportion which the _________ male slaves bears to those of the Free, and that in in case of the failure of any person, or persons furnishing their quota instead of such slave or slaves on whom the lot may fall, to be taxed with a sum adequate to such ______ of service. ---Or that by some other mode which your Honors shall judge most expedient so that justice of equity be done to the poor and to the rich without partiallitis or respect of persons.
And that whereasaccording to the Decree of Congress the wages being so exceedingly disproportionant none are rewarded for their service done in defence of the Country but the Officers only, and those to a most enormeous degree, the privates being designed to serve for as good as naught. Your petitioners therefore recomends that your Honors demonstrate to Congress in respect to the disproportionate [wages] as alowed to the Officers and privates.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray & c.
1. Elijah Thomas John Jenkin Donald Marton James Watson
2. Henry Rummels peter bennet Donald McRay Stephen Thomas
3. Joseph Gord John Skinner Daniel McDaniel Malcolm McDonald
4. Monroe McKiness ben Jaminbolter Zachariah Bell Donald Curry
5. Enoch Stringfellow Dunkin McQuag Stephen Pankey Roderick Mc Donald
6. John hall Isom henry Wm Squires John McNair
7. John Roper Thomas Thompson Jno Cunnigim Samuel Mclaurn
8. Nathaniel Herrington hardy pears Elyah Thomas Edward Curry
9. Norman Mc _ess Donald McHines Zebulon Slaughter Daniel Mcg__
10. Jonathan a_d Samuel Co_ce Murdock Mcfee John Carmaechil
11. Carter Barnet John McLeman Tommas ___ Peter McCall
12. Alexander McRae William Jinkins Edward __ Daniel _llon
13. Duncon McColl Larans Satterfild Neil Mcleod Daniel Mclachlon
Donald Ma_on Archd Mcth_y
2 for Archd Henderson
peter McIntyr Duncan Cammern Duncan McIntyre archy Mcbride Archd McInnis hugh McColl Duncan McBride Archy McNeel Duncan McRae John Denson John McCall Duncan A. McRae Dond Mccoll John McKinzie Duncan McCallum John McDuffie John Lucas John Smith Donald Mc_________ Denis obryan Archd Thompson John Powell Hugh Thompson James Story Neil McLearen Silas Sellors Archd Sinclair William Thomas Normand McRae Laurence Everitt John McLearan Donald McNiell Hugh McLaran John Graham Daniel McLeran Simon Thomas John Buchanon Henry Sreward
Josiah Thomas Junkin Mckoy Benjamin Mims Elick McCray Archd Watson Alexander McQuage Farquard McCray John Steely John Jorgnson Laurence Everett Mathew Watson Duncan McCal John Dees John Canagam Mathew Covington Neal Mckeller Daniel McDonald Nathan Thomas Bengemon parker Hector Mcthomson Neil McN___ Danil McKinon Daniel Cameron Wm Thomas Daniel McDuffe Jonathan P. Bishop Daniel gilli_ Daniel Thomas Archibald Jonson Edwin Ingram James P________ James P__ton
By order
J Hunt
Speaker
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