I have perused this essay with the very great attention¹ & with the most perfect respect for the talents as well as the benevolent motives by which the author has been actuated.² I have no hesitation in declaring that I concur in all the sentiments you express as to the policy of giving freedom to our Slaves under such modifications as may insure³ their happiness and promote the well being of our Country.⁴ The difficulty consists in arranging⁵ by such a scheme⁶ & for the accomplishment of these great objects as is susceptible of execution. This unfortunate class of Society constitute⁷ the great mass of labour employed in the agriculture of the Southern States so withdraw it prematurely⁸ before it is ready to be supplied by an equally efficient white population would be attended by the most disastrous Consequences both publick & individual. Is this to be expected so long as the western Sections of the U.S. offer to foreign emigrants a choice of fertile lands upon the moderate terms on which they can now be purchased or rented? What does every days experience teach us upon this subject? I speak not of the Slave holding States, in which foreigners might not choose to settle, because of that kind of population; but we find that very few of those emigrants stop even in the northern States, where slavery is unknown, but hasten at once to the unsettled forests of the new States & territories. Whilst this State of things exist therefore it⁹ would seem that forced emancipation, if at all practicable, would require the most delicate management and should be so accomodated to existing circumstances as to preserve beyond a perpetuity of failure a due proportion of labor for the agriculture of the Country. How this is to be contrived under the operation of any general system belongs to wiser heads than mine to devise— I am strongly inclined to think that it may be gradually brought about by voluntary emancipation, and that the advance¹⁰ of publick sentiment & feeling upon the subject¹¹ is as rapid as the present circumstances of the Southern Country will bear. There exist difficulties in the way of many¹² who anxiously wish to emancipate these slaves which I fondly hope the efforts of the Colonization Society, should they be successful will remove.¹³ No humane master will¹⁴ withdraw his own care of his slaves until he knows what is to be their future <c>onditon¹⁵ & how they are to be provided for. It is the plan of the Society to satisfy these enquiries and to remove these obstacles, & I am persuaded that by¹⁶ the cooperation of our fellow Citizens (without which nothing can be done)¹⁷ these benefits will be soon realized.

     With respect to the great outlines of your Scheme 1st forced emancipation by the National Govt, and 2d compensation to the owners from the national treasury— they are exposed to difficulties¹⁸ which I have not yet been able to surmount It is possible however that there is no great weight in them; they have no doubt occurrd to you & have been examined with more care than it has been in my power to bestow on them. As to the first, the question which invokes the difficulty is, has the National Govt a power under the Constitution to adopt the proposed measure—¹⁹ It is certainly not to be found amongst the defined power, and²⁰ I do not percieve that it can fairly be implied from any part of that instrument.

     If Congress possess the power, the 2d difficulty occurs— is it likely that the Northern States would consent to pay their proportion of any general tax to carry into effect a measure which they would be very apt (whether Justly or other wise is immaterial) to think was interesting alone to the slave holding states?²¹

     With a tender of my best thanks for your kind attention in forwarding me the essay in question. I am Sir very respectfully yr mo. ob. Servt