Deploring the "awful midnight bloodshed screams & cries which we have had among us within a few doors of our place of residence," the "petition of the american gardiners" suggests that "slavery is the greatest proof or the greatest cause of idleness that ever was introduced in america." They surmise that "there is a great number of our thoughtful Citizens that would be glad to give up there slaves provided they would not be interupted with them nor any other again." They therefore propose that legislation be introduced allowing "the state of Va" to levy a "tax say of one dollar on each slave and to increase every year one dollar" and that "thus the state will be able to in a little time to purchase all the slaves and send them away."
Result: Referred to select committee.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
