Never
was I more surprised than at the reception of this letter, it came so unexpected to me. There had
just been a State Convention held in Detroit, by the free people of color, the proceedings of which
were published in pamphlet form. I forwarded several
of them to distinguished slaveholders in Kentucky — one among others was Mr. Gatewood,
and gave him to understand who sent it. After showing this letter to several of my anti-slavery
friends, and asking their opinions about the propriety of my answering
it, I was advised to do it, as Mr. Gatewood had no on me as a slave, for he
had sold and got the money for me and my family. So I wrote him an answer, as near as I can
recollect, in the following language:
