A copy of the original document follows:

Against the admission of Florida or Texas as slave states, for the abolition of an 1801 act authorizing the recapture of fugitive slaves, and against slavery in the District of Columbia.

Signed by 215 men

Signed January 1, 1842

National Archives

HR 27a-H1.7

The Subscribers, legal voters of the County of Oswego, and State of New York. Respectfully pray Congress, to prevent the admission of Florida and Texas, into the Union, except as free States.-- To Abolish the Act authorizing the recapture of fugitive Slaves in the free States, and Repeal so much [sic] of the Act of February 27th, 1801 entitled "An Act concerning the District of Columbia" as may be Supposed to authorise the existence of Slavery in Said District.