And that object is the overthrow of slavery in the United States, by such means only as are sanctioned by law, humanity, and religion. I shall endeavor, gentlemen, as briefly as may be, to give you some of our reasons for opposing slavery and seeking its abolition; and, secondly, to explain our mode of operation; to disclose our plan of emancipation, fully and entirely. We wish to do nothing darkly; frank republicans, we acknowledge no double-dealing. At this busy season of the year, I cannot but regret that I have not leisure for such a deliberate examination of the subject as even my poor ability might warrant. My remarks, penned in the intervals of labor, must necessarily be brief, and wanting in coherence. We seek the abolishment of slavery 1. Because it is contrary to the law of God. In your paper of the 2d of 7th mo., the same in which you denounce the "false and fanatical philanthropy" of abolitionists, you avow yourselves members of the Bible Society, and bestow warm and deserved encomiums on the "truly pious undertaking of sending the truth among all nations." You, therefore, gentlemen, whatever others may do, will not accuse me of "fanaticism," if I endeavor to sustain my first great reason for opposing slavery by a reference to the volume of inspiration: "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them." "Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the Lord, nor respect of persons." "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness; to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" "If a man be found stealing any of his brethren, and maketh merchandise of him, or selling him, that thief shall die." "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." "And he that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, he shall surely be put to death." 2. Because it is an open violation of all human equality, of the laws of Nature and of nations. The fundamental principle of all equal and just law is contained in the following extract from Blackstone's Commentaries, Introduction, sec. 2. "The rights which God and Nature have established, and which are therefore called natural rights, such as life and liberty, need not the aid of human laws to be more effectually vested in every man than they are; neither do they receive any additional strength when declared by municipal laws to be inviolable: on the contrary, no human legislation has power to abridge or destroy there, unless the owner shall himself commit some act that amounts to a forfeiture." Has the negro committed such offence? Above all, has his infant child forfeited its unalienable right? Surely it can be no act of the innocent child. Yet you must prove the forfeiture, or no human legislation can deprive that child of its freedom. Its black skin constitutes the forfeiture!