File Unit: March THRU April 1817, 3/1/1817 - 4/30/1817
Series: Letters Received, 1789 - 1906
Record Group 59: General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002
Transcription:
139
Philadelphia April 7th. 1817
Sir
At the instance of several gentlemen
of this City I take the liberty of representing to you
that it appears by information received from
Charleston South Carolina that a number of
distressed seamen sent from the port of London
by the Consul of the United States, have arrived
there and being persons of Color an advertise-
ment has been published requiring evidence
of their freedom or of the claims of any per-
sons to their services, as slaves to be transmitted
to the marshals of the city of Charleston before the first day of May next.
The references given in the adver-
tisement to persons and places from which
the individuals are stated to have represented
that proofs of their freedom maybe be obtained
extend to the State of Massachusetts north-
ward and to the State of Ohio westward
and include almost all the intermediate States to Virginia.
Information received immedi-
ately from them by a benevolent man
[page 2]
resident at Charleston gives reason to believe
that the advertisement is in several respects
erroneous and that other persons and in some
respects other places must be resorted to for
the proofs of their freedom.
The enquiries will be pursued with
care and diligence but it is obvious that the
interval announced in the advertisement
is much too small for the object – nor is it
understood why it has been so limited.
It is apprehended that the case
falling within the range of the Executive
duties of the government of the United States
an application may properly be made to you
Sir to have the time extended.
Perhaps an addition of three months
would be little enough whether however it
shall be more or less is submitted to your judge-
ments – but it is respectfully hoped that you
will deem it within your power to give such
directions as will prevent – what it is appre-
hended may be case if within this narrow
interval the rights of freemen shall not
be established – Viz – being indiscriminately
sold for payment of costs and changes.
I have the honor to be – with the greatest respect [unclear (“Sir”??)]
Your obedient servant
[signature (with extensions/flourishes at left & below):] W. Rawle
Hon[’]ble. [? (abbrev. for “Honorable”; letters in superscript after “b” unclear)] Richard Rush
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