lar wish.

Some who admit the _legality_ of slavery in the sight of God, question
the _expediency of its expansion_. It is believed by them to be an
element that is hostile to the best interests of society, and therefore,
great efforts have been, and are now being made, to exclude it from all
the new States and Territories which may hereafter be organized upon our
soil.

While the _expediency_ of its _expansion_ or _continuance_, are
questions with which I have not heretofore meddled, yet I hold their
_investigation_ to be within the legitimate range of Christian duty.

If unquestionable _facts_ and _experience_ warrant the _conclusion_,
that while slavery is lawful, yet its _continuance_ or _expansion_ among
us is _inexpedient_, then let us act accordingly.

Being _prompted_ by your request, I propose to examine _facts_, which
are admitted the world over, as evidence of prosperity and happiness
in a community, and to compare the evidence thus furnished in
different sections of our country, where the experiment of freedom,
and the experiment of slavery have been fully and fairly upon trial
since the commencement of our colonial existence, that we may see,
if possible, what is true on this subject. This seems to be the
_unerring_ method of coming at the truth. And if it shall appear, by
such a comparison--fairly made--between States of equal age, where
slavery and freedom have had a fair opportunity to produce their
legitimate results, that in all the elements of prosperity, slaveholding
States suffer nothing in the comparison--but that, in almost every
particular, are decidedly in advance of the non-slaveholding States,
why then we are bound to let the testimony of these facts control our
judgment.

Every man and woman in the United States should not only be willing, but
desirous to know, what is the matter-of-fact evidence on this
all-absorbing question. It is but lately that any method existed, of
coming at _undisputed_ facts, which would throw light upon this subject.
The Congress of the United States seeing this, thought proper to order
that such facts as tend to demonstrate the relative prosperity of the
different States of the Union, in religion--in morals--in the
acquisition of wealth--in the increase of native population--in the
prolongation of life--in the diminution of crime, etc., etc., should be
ascertained, under oath, by competent and responsible agents, and that
these facts should be published at th