m in their newspapers. But unfortunately for our
cause, of the five newspapers printed in this State, four are the
avowed advocates of Slavery (in other words for a Convention) and
but one of Freedom, and that one not friendly to me and other
opponents of the Convention. This division among us arises from
factions, personal and local feelings, and from the circumstance
that we have many avowed friends of freedom, who are themselves
the masters of slaves; and who, while they unite with us in
opposing the means of the further introduction of Slavery, are at
the same time violently opposed to our efforts to abolish the
remnant of Slavery which is still allowed to stain our soil.
There is also another class among us who profess to be opposed to
Slavery and who rail much against it, but yet who are friendly to
it, as is fully evinced by their advocating every measure
calculated to introduce and tolerate it here. The character and
feelings of these several classes of our citizens were strongly
exemplified last winter, when, on entering into office, I called
the attention of the Legislature to the existence of Slavery
among us, and urged its abolition. As it may be the means of
throwing some light on the slave question in this State, I will
send you, accompanying this letter, a printed copy of my speech,
and a report made by a committee of the Legislature on a part of
it.

My remarks and recommendation on the subject of Slavery produced
a great excitement among those who held slaves, or were desirous
of holding them, particularly among those advocates of a
Convention who were professedly the opponents of Slavery, but
secretly its friends, and who hoped under the fair mask of
freedom, to deceive the people and to smuggle in the monster
Slavery. Bringing forward the measure of abolition at the same
time they brought forward the Convention question, placed these
professed friends to the rights of man in an awkward situation,
for it was apparent if they voted agreeable to their
declarations, they, together with the real and genuine friends of
freedom, would constitute a majority of the Legislature, and of
course pass the abolition Bill. This state of things had the
effect of unmasking their true opinions and views, and of clearly
exhibiting to the