and abused in the most inhuman manner, and finally we have seen fifteen thousand souls, men, women, and children driven by force of arms during the severities of winter from their sacred homes and firesides to a land of strangers, penniless and unprotected. Under all these afflicting circumstances we imploringly stretch forth our hands towards the highest Councils of our and humbly appeal to the Illustrious Senators and Representatives of a great and free people for redress and protection. Hear O hear the Petitioning voice of many thousands of American Citizens who now groan in exile on Columbia’s free soil. Hear O Hear the weeping and bitter lamentations of Widows and Orphans whose husbands and fathers have been cruelly martyred in the Land where the proud Eagle exultingly floats. Let it not be recorded in the Archives of the nations that Columbia’s exiles sought protection and redress at your hands but sought it in vain. It is in your power to save us, our wives, and our children from a repetition of the blood thirsty scenes of and greatly relieve the fears of a persecuted and injured people by ordaining for their protection the following ordinance, namely,