Transcribed by Jay Webb and used here with his permission.  Original spelling, punctuation, and capitalization retained.

September 22, 1813

Citizens residing South of French broad and Holston between the Rivers Tennessee and Big Pigeon asking body as tender parent to extend fostering care to every member.  The difficulty and inconvenience to which they have been subjected in common with the rest of fellow citizens of Tennessee by the unjust aggression of a vindictive and aspiring enemy upon lawful commerce --- petitioners who not withstanding their best efforts have been still had the mortification to find themselves incapable of easy money from any of the products of their labors.  We now too find ourselves called on by our general government to contribute our primary aid toward carrying on a war for the defense and maintenance of some of our discint rights --- usurpation of our cient and inveterate foe -- a war to the support of which we are bound by every principle that can influence a people --- in our present situation we find it will be utterly impossible for us to contribute our proportion to the general tax and to rain money enough to pay even the interest upon our investments.  We have not the among us --- and do with truth assure you that our coffers were drained even of their last cent.  We could not rain --- Both policy and patriotism furnish a ready answer let the lesser object yield to the greater --- let us unite with all our energy to carry on our war with vigor and not by crippling any part to suffer on sinew of the body policie to be relaxed when the war is over and an honorable peace shall be established your petitioners will then with gratitude exert every faculty to comply with the demands of the state ---