TORONTO, C. W., June 21, 1848

MR. EDITOR: — Sir, I recieved not long since, through the kindness of a friend, a number of your most excellent paper—"The North Star." It is a source of no small satisfaction to me, to learn that a press has been established with yourself at its head, the express object of which, is, to "attack slavery in all its forms and aspects: advocate Universal Emancipation; exalt the standard of public morality; promote the moral and intellectual improvement of the colored people; and hasten the day of freedom to the three millions of our enslaved fellow countrymen."— Sir, it is just the thing we need, I look upon the press as the most successful means of informing our opponents, what our rights are and of evincing a disposition of asserting them, fearlessly and manfully, yet legally. It is also a means by which we can refute the base and unfounded charge, that colored men are incapable of attaining the degree of intellectual acquirements, like that of white men. You are doubtless aware, that the charge (wicked as it is false,) has been preferred against us, that we do not possess minds of the same susceptibility as those of our opponents. But the clearest and most positive proof to the contrary, is the passage of laws in certain States, prohibiting persons of color from learning to read. Now, Sir, if the mind of the colored man is not susceptible of improvement, where I ask, is the necessity of legislatures enacting laws prohibiting certain persons from doing certain things for which they have not the mind nor the capacity of doing! The answer is obvious. I hope Sir, that your paper will be made all that you promise — especially devoted to the promotion of the social, moral, and political elevation of the "colored people." I am happy to learn, that you have associated with you, in the editorial department, Mr. M. R. Delany, that most able, worthy and indefatigable friend of moral elevation, with whose aid and influence, I feel confident in believing that you may rely on abundant success.

Yours, for God and Humanity

J. J. C.