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 Do not these facts prove a sincere purpose and earnest endeavor, on the part of Americans, both in their Colonial and in their National capacities, to do all in their power to put a check to the evil, and stop the further progress of a wrong, the commencement of which it was not in their power to prevent?

But the question is often asked, why does not the Government of the United States abolish slavery as well as forbid the slave-trade? To this it is to be replied, that the American Government has no power to do so: the Congress of the United States has no power whatever over slavery Within the limits of the different States. It should be understood that the United States is a Confederacy, composed at present of thirty-three different States, each of which is sovereign and independent as to all its internal concerns. To understand this — it is to be remembered that before the War of Independence there were thirteen distinct Colonies, entirely independent of, and unconnected