not so good.  Yes, how can our friends but be embarrassed, as Mr. Jefferson says, by the question, “What further is to be done with these people?” for while they are working for our emancipation, we are, by our treachery, wickedness and deceit, working against ourselves and our children—­helping ours, and the enemies of God, to keep us and our dear little children, in their infernal chains of slavery!!  Indeed, our friends cannot but relapse and join themselves with those who are actuated by sordid avarice only!!!!’ For my part, I am glad Mr. Jefferson has advanced his position for your sake; for you will either have to contradict or confirm him by your own actions and not by what our friends have said or done for us; for those things are other men’s labors and do not satisfy the Americans who are waiting for us to prove to them ourselves that we are MEN before they will be willing to admit the fact; for I pledge you my sacred word of honor that Mr. Jefferson’s remarks respecting us have sunk deep into the hearts of millions of the whites and never will be removed this side of eternity.  For how can they, when we are confirming him every day by our groveling submissions and treachery?

I aver that when I look upon these United States and see the ignorant deceptions and consequent wretchedness of my brethren, I am brought oft-times solemnly to a stand, and in the midst of my reflections I exclaim to my God, ’Lord didst thou make us to be slaves to our brethren, the whites?’ But when I reflect that God is just, and that millions of my wretched brethren would meet death with glory—­yea, more, would plunge into the very mouths of cannons and be torn into particles as minute as the atoms which compose the elements of the earth, in preference to a mean submission to the lash of tyrants, I am with streaming eyes, compelled to shrink back into nothingness before my Maker, and exclaim again, thy will be done, O Lord God Almighty.

Men of colour, who are also of sense, for you particularly is my appeal designed.  Our more ignorant brethren are not able to penetrate its value.  I call upon you therefore to cast your eyes upon the wretchedness of your brethren and to do your utmost to enlighten them—­go to work and enlighten your brethren!—­let the Lord see you doing what you can to rescue them and yourselves from degradation.  Do any of you say that you and your family are free and happy and what have you to do with wretched slaves and other people?  So can I say, for I enjoy as much freedom as any of you, if I am not quite as well off as the best of you.  Look into our freedom and happiness and see of what kind they are composed!!  They are of the very lowest kind—­they are the very dregs!—­they are the most servile and abject kind, that ever a people was in possession of!  If any of you wish to know how FREE you are, let one of you start and go thro’ the southern and western States of this country, and unless you