standard of moral principle is _better_, is _essential_. As a nation, we have too long educated the _mind_, and left the _heart_ a moral waste. We have fully and fearfully illustrated the truth of the Apostle’s declaration: ‘Knowledge puffeth up.’ We have indeed been puffed up, vaunting ourselves in our mental endowments and national greatness. But we are beginning to realize, that it is ‘Righteousness which exalteth a nation.’ Thou sayest, when a woman is asked to sign a petition, or join an Anti-Slavery Society, it is ‘for the purpose of contributing her measure of influence to keep up agitation in Congress, to promote the excitement of the North against the iniquities of the South, to coerce the South by fear, shame, anger, and a sense of odium, to do what she is determined not to do.’ Indeed! Are these the only motives presented to the daughters of America, for laboring in the glorious cause of Human Rights? Let us examine them. 1. ‘To keep up agitation in Congress.’ Yes--for I can adopt this language of Moore of Virginia, in the Legislature of that State, in 1832: ‘I should regret at all times the existence of any unnecessary excitement in the country on any subject; but I confess, I see no reason to lament that which may have arisen on the present occasion. It is often necessary that there should be some excitement among the people, to induce them to turn their attention to questions deeply affecting the welfare of the Commonwealth; and _there never can arise any subject more worthy their attention, than that of the abolition of slavery_.’ 2. ‘To promote the excitement of the North against the iniquities of the South.’ Yes, and against her own sinful copartnership in those iniquities. I believe the discussion of Human Rights at the North has already been of incalculable advantage to this country. It is producing the happiest influence upon the minds and hearts of those who are engaged in it; just such results as Thomas Clarkson tells us, were produced in England by the agitation of the subject there. Says he, ‘Of the immense advantages of this contest, I know not how to speak. Indeed, the very agitation of the question, which it involved, has been highly important. Never was the heart of man so expanded; never were its generous sympathies so generally and so perseveringly excited. These sympathies, thus called into existence, have been useful preservatives of national virtue.’ I, therefore, wish very much to promote the Anti-Slavery excitement at the North, because I believe it will prove a useful preservative of national virtue. 3. ‘To coerce the South by fear, shame, anger, and a sense of odium.’ It is true, that I feel the imminent danger of the South so much, that I would fain ‘save them with fear, pulling them out of the fire;’ for, if they ever are saved, they will indeed be ‘as a brand plucked out of the burning.’ Nor do I see any thing wrong in influencing slaveholders by a feeling of shame