DECEMBER 14, 1815
To the Hounorable the Congress of the United States, the humble petition of the Undersigned Inhavitants of the eastern part of the Mississippi Territory, respectfully showeth,
That they feel a mortification in troubling Congress with new complaints relating to the subject of debts due on account of public lands--which nothing could alleviate but a confidence in the justice of your honorable body, and a knowledge of the inability of the purchasers to pay the instalments due, in consequence of a series of events not subject tho their control. They purchased in a time of peace, when there was a reasonable prospect of raising the necessary funds. They were often obliged to purchase more land than they really wanted for the purpose of cultivation, in order to obtain situations suitable for residence. To fertile swamp-lands pregnant with disease, they were obliged to add barren pine-lands whose only recommendation was, that they afforded a healthful settlement. The Purchasers paid the first instalments, and hoped by reasonable industry and economy to be able to pay the rest. War with the British deprived them of a market. War with the Indians drove them from their farms, engaged them in military service, and made their property the sport of the desolating savage. Dwelling houses, mills, cattle, horse, corn and household furniture, have been destroyed or carried away by the Enemy:--but not by the enemy alone, but even the volunteers and Militia, sent for the protection of the country, have been oblidged to consume the corn & stock of the Inhabitants of this frontier to a very considerable amount, without affording to them any immediate means of obtaining indemnification for their loss.--Your petitioners therefore humbly pray, that those who have purchased more than one fraction of land, or one quarter of a section, may be permitted to place the whole of the payments which they have made, to the credit of such fraction or quarter of a section as they may think proper on their releasing all calim whatsoever to any other land included in their purchases. The evils of the war have fallen with peculiar severity on the inhabitants of this district. Many will not for a long time recover the shock which they have sustained in their property. They would wish to be on the safe side--they would rather have a little land, and be able to call it their own, than become the sport of future casualties--or the petitioners for future indulgences. The Government can loose nothing by such an arrangement--they part with no more land than they are paid for, and they gain hardy & independent defenders of their Territory.
And your petitioners further most humbly pray that the purchsers of public Lands may be placed in the same situation as they were in at the period of the declaration of War--and that the space of time from thence to the ratification of peace, may not be reckoned in the calulation of the Interest due from the purchasers of public Lands, or in ascertaining the Periods at which the several instalments themselves are payable.
Your Petitioners rely with confidence on the Justice & liberality of the Government and most respectfullly supplicate your honorable body to grant the desired relief, and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.--
Samuel Smith Benj Dubroca Daniel Duval
Charles Conway John Elliot James Bready
Joseph P Kennedy Cha Beeler Alvan Robeshow
F Drury M McKinsey Daniel Iwzan
P H Hobart Alex Hallinger M Ward
Joseph Caro W Cherrault A Kilpatrick
M Cherrault Rueben Saffold Daniel Johnston
James Wilson Thos J Strong W R Chambliss
Joseph Johnston Thos Powell Thomas Carson
Diego M ? Geo Fisher W W Payto
John Landrum Philip McLoske James Ford
W Wilkins James Wood John Johnston Senior
Alexr Shaw James Johnston John Rhoeds
John Hinson Gerrard W. Creagh William Peirce
Benj Hatch John Peirce Richard Cole
B Baldwin Abner Turner N Shackelford
Isaac Pew Jn Hilliard John Campbell
Jn Bowie Joseph Carson Archi Rial
Saml Acre Armstead Hall William Crawford
Jonathan Embree M D Wilson Lees Gardner
G A Caro Charles M Lawson Sebastian Caro
Thomas Bassett Thomas Been Young Gains
Samuel Haines Harry Toulmin J Malone
David Files Allen C Yates A S Lipscomb
John Hanes Richd M Oneal J Walker
Harrison Long Jos Spradling Richard Haynesworth
Benj Stidham Lewis Crane Andw Milton
Absolem Wells Howel Dupree William Jordan
Thomas Bilbo J Hainsworth Sterling Dupree
Michael Gilbert James Ware James Caller
John L Buford Isaac Phillips John Eubanks
John Pickering Henry Wattes Thomas Page
J Etheridge Berry Vinzant Lazs Jn Bryars
A McGrew John Denley John McGrew
James Nelson Clarke McGrew Isaac Johnston
L Mott Willis Etheridge Robert Ranking
David Graves Joseph Gillaspy J D Lister
Jesse C Wm Murrell H D Clark
Joseph Thompson Jr Nathl Denson Dan Coleman
Thos Gough Robt Caller Jur Niel Mcarthur
David Rudder Peter Stubbs William Buning
Wm Casity James Furlow James Griffin
F L McGrew James Griffin Benjamin Landrum
J Watts John Smith Reuben George
Isham B Philips John Evans Abraham H Philips
Wm Morris John Jones Josh Crain
John Snow Isham Brown Wm Browing
James Garner Joseph Neeley John Finch
Ed Smith Wm Spradly Jacob Harrel
Sharod Parker John Hall Thomas Davice
Jesse Thompson John Nicholasson Jonathen Doorman
Dempsey Smith Charles Stewart James Courtney
Sanford Rainey Wm Smith Jas Smith
Duncan McCall Wm Coleman Simon Strikling
A I Reed John M’Creger S Reed
Thomas Deen Absalem Reed Salathiel Morris
Jams Weldy Stacy Collins Jacob Jones
Thomas Powe William G Boykin Alexr Powe
J G Lyon George Evans John Koen
J K Rankin Benj F Smoot John V Welsh
Denn Darling John W Brown John Phillips
Henry Anderson Phillip Graves J L Philips
Joshua Graves G B Chaney S Shannon
F Rankin Pitt Woodard Alexander McLeod
Wm Walton David Williams John F Sossaman
Jeremiah Worgham J Malone James Welsh
Jno B Hand Samuel S Merthle Thomas May
Matth Shaw John Smith John Vance
Robt May Haydon Wells James Watts
William Ross John McRa Rawlins
William Webber Ranson Philips Harris Mounger
Iredill L Philips Ruben Hais Z Landram
Thomas Hollaman J Gilmer Isaac Standly
Elij Granad Stephen Standly Michael Gilbert
Gray Sims Berry Vinzant Duncan McCall
Martin Crane John Carson Francis Stringer
James Garner George Haupt Edward Arnel
Wm Smith Edward Davis Josias Bullock
Robt Hicklin John H Bullock John Smyth
W Lang Danil Woffone James Strongfield
He Hendry Thomas McFall S Harrias
M Cokeland Geo Buchannon W Richbourg
James Magoffin James Patton John McDonald
Saml Cole James Jones John Keakey
Mar Mucy Clinch Gray Wm Powe
Daniel McRa Isaac Carter William Killen
Roderick Currie John L Evans Elisha Morgan
George Deas James Touchston Jacob Carter
Wm Hollaway Jas M Flaut John Aingell
Edward Smith Briant Barlow John Beard
Edwd Seimond John Warren Jonathan Sirman
Jno Dean P Burlamon R G Haden
Cornelius Rain Jas Lawson Jeptha Kanady
Warham Easley Robert Killveares Joseph Kerkham
Jesse Stedham John Hogg John Faris
W Pery Edward Stidham Benjn Hogg
J Carney Henry Franklin James Powell
Joseph Mott John Powell Elijah Green
J D Rogers William A Robinson Alexr Miller
James Wilson Thos Yancey Russell Jones
John Armstrong John Pearson S H Garrow
Henry Myneek Jno Gayle Wm Eveleigh
Exekial Reeves John L Dantzler E Lewis
Edward Gatlin Joseph Mims Jos Skinner
John Warsham Alex McIntosh Z Landrum
William Morgan Francis Coleman William Melloff
Lewis Caller Edmund Lankford