Transcribed from microfilm and contributed by: Charles A. Sherrill, 1992
A project of the Bradley County Historical Society

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Year 1853, Petition Number 59_

[This petition was referred to the Committee on Ways & Means Dec. 7, 1853. The clerk’s notes on the cover sheet reads: “The Committee on Ways & Means have had this petition under consideration and recommend that they prayer of the petition be granted. W.J. Sykes[?]”]

To the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee Now in Session

Your petitoners citizens of Bradley County Tennessee, would respectfully represent that they are “Merchants” in trade in the Town of Cleveland.

They would further represent that the revenue laws of this State, requires them to pay Taxes for their Privileges, which they do not complain of.

They would further represent that their County & Country have lately been _invaded_ by numerous “Hawkers and Pedlers” who are _not_ _Citizens_ of this State. And who evade the revenue laws of this State, and thereby interfere with the regular trade of the “local Merchant.”

We would most respectfully sugest that your honerable body take such steps as in your wisdom will meet and remedy the Evil by suppressing, or confining the privilege to Citizens of our own State under a more specific regulation,

We are verry respectfully Yr Obt Svts

Cleveland Ten.

Decr. 3rd 1853

W.H. & R.J. Grant