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Original Document
Petition against the Alien and Sedition Laws signed by 98 citizens of Northumberland County, PA, 1798.

"To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,"

"The petition of the subscribers inhabitants of the county of Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania,

"Respectfully showe

"That while we are warmly attached to the Union we cannot, but express our concern at several acts passed in the two last sessions of Congress:

"lst. The law for erecting a standing army. Whilst we can assure your honorable body that we are ready at any call to defend our country against any foreign enemy in case of an invasion.

"2nd.The sedition and alien laws. Whilst we believe them to produce more disunion than union, and to bear too much of the face of persecution.

"3d. The law for raising a revenue on stamped vellum, parchment and paper. While we believe the inconvenience of procuring and using stamped paper is too much felt by individuals, and the name of a stamp act odious to most Americans.

"4th. The law for assessing and collecting a direct tax, the great increase of revenue officers, and the great expense necessary to levy and collect money under the new regulations are in our opinion serious objections, but equal weight is the partiality which must necessarily attend its operation.

"It is now well known that the owners of houses in Pennsylvania will pay much more in proportion to the value of their property than the holders of uncultivated lands. We think if Congress would direct each State to assess their proportion of the two millions of dollars in their own usual way, it would be less expensive and more equal.

"The humble prayer of your petitioners, therefore, is that the subject we have mentioned may be taken into consideration by Congress, while we declare our desire that such a system of economy may be pursued as will be compatible with the dignity and security of our government, and that the wisdom of our Federal Legislature will select such methods of raising whatsoever revenue may be least disagreeable to the people at large and best calculated to promote harmony among the greatest body of our citizens."

(Signatures)

Credit: J.B. Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, (Harrisburg, PA, 1883), 32-33.rn
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