gone, gone,—sold and gone,
to the rice-swamp dank and lone,
from virginia’s hills and waters;
woe is me, my stolen daughters!

This again represents either slaves or indentured slaves. Virginia was known for it's high slave population and the last line "Woe is me, my stolen daughters!" represents either this man or woman's stolen daughter. Probably stolen for a future wife or slave.

the correct answer is a. how to make proposal that works.

indeed, the register is quite formal and the tone is especially objective as it avoids the use of the first and second person singular (i, you) and opts instead for the third person plural which is more impersonal and focuses on the data and the argument that is being developed by the author. the formality adds the impression of respectability to the work and the impersonality adds objectivity to it.