For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

LETTER FROM BETSEY D. HAWKS.

HILLSDALE, Mich., Feb. 14, 1855

FRIEND DOUGLASS: DEAR SIR:—In a letter published in your paper Jan. 26, Capt. Chas. Stuart expresses himself pained because Mrs Stanton represents "the law of man's inner being, written by the finger of God in the first hour of his creation, while yet in his primeval state—godlike, rational, and holy—as tantamount to the law of man's inner being, at present written, as it is, by the devil in man's apostate, sinful and lost estate." What proof has Capt. Stuart that the inner law of our being is not the same now as the first hour of its creation? Are the laws which govern the spiritual or "inner" man liable to change? Then, the penalty annexed to those laws must necessarily change. Man may be ever so sinful; yet nature and revelation teach that the laws of his moral and physical existence remain the same. Man is sinful, because he has violated the laws of his being, not because those laws are become less just and holy. Is it not a law of our being to love liberty and hate slavery? Did God write freedom upon the soul of man, and enstamp subjection, in

the soul of man, and enstamp subjection in characters just as plain, upon the soul of his sister? Every intelligent, sane woman hurls the base insinuation upon the head of him who dares to utter so blasphemous a sentiment. Such a doctrine gives the lie to the justice of God. "My ways are just and equal." "My soul hateth iniquity" "God cannot look on sin with the least degree of allowance."

Capt. Stuart says "the abuse of the Bible is not the Bible. God has given us the Bible, as a divine, perfect, unchangeable, recorded standard of all moral truth and duty." How can such a standard be abused? Man oppresses his weaker brother and sister, and goes to the Bible to justfiy his crime. Will he find oppression of any shade here justified? Would God write Freedom in ineffaceable lines upon the soul of man, and in his revelation teach that oppression under certain circumstances, was justifiable? Admit this, and you deny "the Bible to be a divine, perfect, unchangeable, recorded standard of all moral truth and duty."—Does Paul teach any thing contrary to this? or are his writings capable of a construction, which will conflict with the truth and justice of God? The man who denies woman the rights and privileges which he claims for himself, cannot have a very exalted opinion of Freedom, nor a large sense of Justice.

Mrs. Stanton's measures pain Captain Stuart, "as believing them to be decidedly hurtful to her anti-slavery influence." It is

hurtful to her anti-slavery influence." It is not because the friends of anti-slavery lack harmony, that they are not as successful as in 1833-4; but because of their inconsistencies. As discussion brings light to the minds of the masses, they can but see that the professed apostles of Freedom have embraced only a part of the human family in their sympathies—for if anti-slavery women advocate liberty and equal rights for themselves, as well as for the Southern slave, they are met with reproach, and accused of creating discord, by insisting upon measures not "fundamental to the immediate emacipation of our enslaved brethren," and of preferrring "individual conscience" to God's word. It is also very modestly hinted that woman "is commanded to be in subjection to her husband!"

Does not woman feel deeply for the enslaved? and would she not vote as well as talk for liberty, where she enfranchised by her lordly brother, who clamors so loudly for freedom for the slave afar off, but will not lift a finger to help the oppressed near at hand? Many men do not feel the wrongs of women any more than the slaveholder appreciates the wrong he inflicts upon his negro servants, and for the same reason; and when required to do justice, both classes appeal to the Bible to prove themselves in the right. Every woman will perceive much more truth than poetry in "Mrs. Stanton's Appeal." When the friends of Freedom take the broad platform of Truth, and engrave upon their unfurled banner this ex-

excellent motto, "All rights for all," and act its spirit then will Freedom proudly reflect her beauty and glory upon her true friends, and shame her enemies into oblivion. Then will harmony reign,for dark-browed Error cannot stand side by side with radiant Truth.

That the dark pall of Oppression may be lifted from every heart, is the earnest prayer of your friend and co-worker,

BETSEY D. HAWKES.