A letter now lies before me from an elder of a religious denomination in the far South-West, who was converted to Abolition sentiments by Anti-Slavery publications sent to him from the city of New York, and who has already emancipated his slaves, ten in number. The writer says, ‘my hopes are revived when I read of the progress of the cause in the Eastern States, and of the increase of Anti-Slavery Societies. My soul glows with gratitude to God for his mercy to the down-trodden slaves, in raising up for them in these days of savage cruelty, hundreds who, fearless of consequences, are standing up for the entire abolition of slavery, whom, though unseen, I dearly love. O! how it would delight me to listen to the public addresses of some of these dear friends.’ Hear, too, the reason assigned by James Smylie, a Presbyterian minister of the Amite Presbytery, Mississippi, for writing a book in 1836, to prove that slavery is a divine institution. ‘From his intercourse with religious societies of _all_ denominations in Mississippi and Louisiana, he was aware that the Abolition maxim, viz: that _Slavery is in itself sinful, had gained on and entwined itself among the religious and conscientious scruples of many_ in the community, so far as to render them _unhappy_. The eye of the mind, resting on Slavery itself as a _corrupt fountain_, from which, of necessity, _nothing but corrupt_ streams could flow, was _incessantly_ employed in search of some plan by which, with safety, the fountain could, in some future time, be _entirely_ dried up.’ An illustration of this important acknowledgement, will be found in the following fact, extracted from the Herald of Freedom: ‘A young gentleman who has been residing in South Carolina, says our movements (Abolitionists) are producing the best effects upon the South, _rousing the consciences of Slaveholders_, while the slaves seem to be impressed as a body with the idea, that help is coming--that an interest is felt for them, and plans devising for their relief somewhere--which keeps them quiet. He says it is not uncommon for ministers and good people to make confession like this. One, riding with him, broke forth, ‘O, I fear that the groans and wails from our slaves enter into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth. I am distressed on this subject: my _conscience_ will let me have no peace. I go to bed, but not to sleep. I walk my room in agony, and resolve that I will never hold slaves another day; but in the morning, my heart, like Pharaoh’s, is hardened.’