Friend Douglass:—
Although several ominent writers have shown conclusively that our Federal Constitution prohibits slavery either by federal or state authority, I have not seen any attempt by the federal or state legislatures, or the federal or state courts, to controvert a single position or authority used by any of those writers on the subject; yet our Whig and Democratic dignitaries all continue to recognize the constitutionality of slavery, as though nothing had been said or written against it. Are not the reasonings and authorities published to the world by such men as Goodell, Smith, and Spooner, worthy of consideration? Will the American people long be satisfied with the dignified silence on this important subject? and against the laws of God, and the inalienable rights of man, be compelled to chase down men, women and children like wild beasts, and replunge them into the horrors of slavery, concubinage, and, in fact, to expose them to the "sum of all villany?" I think they will not. Let every craven Judge in the land follow the example of Judge Kane, and they will not make any man with an independent spirit fear to resist the encroachments on human rights, the constitution, and the law of God! But if any spurious Whigs or Democrats will show how slavery does or can exist other than by usurpation or by a bill of attainder, the people will yield - yield at once. It was not law, but the violation of law, both human and divine, that our brave men in Christiana and Syracuse resisted, that has been dignified with the name of treason!
Let those sticklers of slavery show that attainder is confined to disqualifying criminals and their issue; and that consequently a bill depriving the issue of women kidnapped in Africa of every human right is no attainder; that the constitution is more tender of the rights of criminals and their issue than of the rights of the innocent and unfortunate - then this doctrine is established. The foundation will then be secured to all the states to oppress any class of their citizens, if they are but poor and unfortunate. The children of the inebriate and the pauper will become lawful plunder, and it will be treason to relive them or aid their escape. All this would be carried out to the letter by our Castle Garden advocates of "law and order." I apprehend, however, before Congress will establish a permanent peace between the advocates of human rights and the advocates of slavery they must add another provision

to the peace measures—one abolishing all claim to service or labor incompatible with the spirit and letter of the Federal Constitution, especially that part thereof which prohibits both the general and state governments to pass any bill of attainder. Will not the true friends to "law and order" petition them to that effect? Had our Congress done this in compliance with a petition headed by Benjamin Franklin in 1790, soon after the far-seeing statesman had assisted in framing the Federal Constitution, we should now have been, what we vainly boast of being, a free and happy people. That petition was submitted to a committee of Southern slaveholders and Northerners interested in the African slave-trade, and they gave it the go-by. But sooner or later this object must be effected, as Washington recommended, by legislative enactments, or the Declaration of '76 will again be baptized in blood. The President can, with safety and honor, call on the army and navy if need be, to enforce any enactment of Congress which may be in accordance with human rights and law of God; but enactments in violation of these will meet the same fate now, as similar enactments of the British Parliament did in '76, and by the same God-like spirit.
I am aware that many, who view the constitution and fugitive slave law as I do, will join our enemies in saying a petition on this subject would do no good, but would incense the slaveholders and their friends against us, and the fetter of the slaves would be riveted the tighter.
This was the fallacious manner of reasonings by the Israelites against God's commands to Moses concerning Egyptian slavery. Neglect to oppose violence, from fear of incensing the violator, is not justifiable even in a timid, lonely female. What, then, is the duty of five hundred thousand brave hearts, against the sum of all villainy? "Cry aloud, spare not!" If such a petition does no other good, it will give our friends in Congress (if we should have any bold enough) an opportunity to define the prohibition of the constitution, and we shall obey God in remembering "them in bonds as bound with them."
Wm. ShattuckShattuck, William

.
Randolph, Catt. Co., N. Y.