Gatewood writes a more cautious letter upon the subject than his son Silas.

"It is not a very easy matter to catch old birds with chaff," and I presume if Silas had the writing of his letter over again, he would not be so free in telling all he knew, and even more, for the sake of making out a strong case.

The object of his writing such a letter will doubtless be understood by the reader.

It was to destroy public confidence in the victims of slavery, that the system might not be exposed--it was to gag a poor fugitive who had undertaken to plead his own cause and that of his enslaved brethren.

It was a feeble attempt to suppress the voice of universal freedom which is now thundering on every gale.