I ought long ago to have acknowledged the deep sense which I entertain of my obligation to the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, for the honour they have been pleased to confer upon me by enrolling my name in the number of their corresponding Members; as signified in your Excellencys Letter of the 9th. June last.

I read, with very particular satisfaction, their excellent Remonstrance against Slavery, addressed to the late Convention.

When such solemn and unanswerable appeals to the consciences of Men, in behalf of Humanity and Common Justice, are disregarded the Crimes of Slavedealing and Slaveholding, become crying Sins which presumptuously invite the Divine Retribution! So that it must be highly dangerous to the political Existence of any State to afford the least Sanction to such enormities by their legislative authority! Having been always zealous for the honour of free Governments I am the more sincerely grieved to see the new Foederal Constitution stained by the insertion of 2 most exceptionable Clauses of the kind abovementioned; the one in direct opposition to a most honourable Article ordained by the first American Congress in 1774 to be perpetually observed; and the other in equal opposition to an express command of the Almighty not to deliver up to his Master the Servant that has escaped from his master” Yca. Both Clauses, however, (the 9th. Sect. of the 1st. Article and the latter part of the 2d Sectn: of the 3d Article) are so clearly null and void by their iniquity, that it would be even a crime to regard them as law! Though I have, indeed, too plainly proved myself to be a very unworthy and dilatory Correspondent through the unavoidable impediment of a variety of Affairs and Trusts that have been devolved upon me, yet I must request your Excellency to inform the worthy Pennsylvania Society that I have never knowingly omitted any favourable opportunity of promoting the great objects of their Institution, and (I trust in in God) I never shall. I remain with true esteem and respect, Dear Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant