National Continental Union League [Petition of National Continental Union League for union with Canada]

Petition calling for lawful, peaceful and honorable union between the United States and Canada. Says "The time has come when it is desirable that Europe should cease to direct or control the political or domestic affairs or any portion of this continent." Petition was the first act of organization of the National Continental Union League, founded in 1892 in New York and Toronto. The group devoted itself to raising funds to promote a constitutional union through the publication of pamphlets and aid to Canadian organizations and politicians in favor of union. The petition is signed in various inks and pencils and includes two typed copies of the names describing who the signers are. Most of the signatures are of political and business leaders from the New York metropolitan area, along with other national leaders. Several Canadians also signed it. The first signature is of Charles A. Dana, the group's original sponsor and strategist. Some prominent signatures include: former New York City Mayor Seth Low, New York Governor Roswell P. Flower, Major General Henry Slocum, John Jacob Astor, Andrew Carnagie, Theodore Roosevelt, John Hay, and Henry Cabot Lodge, among many others. Formerly bound through two holes punched out at the top. Document consists of various wove and laid papers and each sheet has been individually mounted on cardstock. The document is divided into two folders