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Echoes of Oregon History Learning Guide
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Document No. 6024 - Enlarge image
Petition to Allow Thomas Family to Stay in Oregon, 1854
Transcript of original document:
To the Honorable Legislative Assembly of the Territory
of Oregon: The undersigned citizens of the Territory of
Oregon, do most respectfully pray for the passage of an Act
of the proper character by your Honorable bodies to exempt
Morris Thomas a free man of color, and all and singular the
members of his family, from the operation of the Act of the
Legislative Assembly passed September 26th, 1849, and
Entitled "an Act to prevent Negros and Mullattos from coming
to or residing in Oregon."
The said Morris Thomas now is and for several years past has been, a resident in the city of Portland in the Territory of Oregon. He is an industrious, peacable, well disposed mulatto man, and we do verily be-lieve the passage of the Act prayed for will be of no detriment to the welfare of the Ter-ritory or the intereests of any citizen (?) and as in duty bounden we will ever pray &C (128 signatures)
Background
American immigrants brought anti-black attitudes with
them. These immigrants, mostly from the midwest, disliked
both slaves and free blacks. The territorial legislature
passed a law which prohibited free blacks from staying in
Oregon. This petition requested the legislature to pass an
act exempting Morris Thomas and his family, free blacks,
from the provisions of the earlier law. Thomas, who lived in
Portland, is described as a model citizen. The legislature
discovered that the law excluding blacks had accidentally
been repealed. Efforts to resurrect it failed.
Words and Terms
mulatto?
detriment?
For Further Discussion
1. What are the petitioners asking the legislature to
do?
2. What does this document tell you about the attitudes of
the petitioners toward free blacks?
3. What reasons do the petitioners give for allowing Morris
Thomas and his family to stay in Oregon?
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