Condition and Prospects of the Fugitives in Canada.

Dear Douglass:—You may remember that, at the Annual Meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society in this city, last May, I was appointed Chairman of a Committee to ascertain as far as practicable, the number of 'fugitives' in Canada; their places of refuge; their condition and prospects; their immediate and most pressing wants; the best ways of conveying to them such contributions for their relief as may be gathered in these States; and the persons, in different localities, who may be relied upon to make the most judicious distributions of such contributions.

The fulfilment of the duty assigned me has been deferred from time to time until now, in the hope of obtaining more extensive and accurate information. I am sorry to say the results of my inquiries have not been so abundant or satisfactory as I hoped. But I can withhold my report no longer, and must therefore give it to the public, in the apprehension that some of my statements will be found, on further inquiry, to be inaccurate. - If however the publication of what I have gathered up, should lead others to communicate what they know, the inquiries so often made, as above, will be fully answered; and all, who wish, may be instructed, how best to contribute to the comfort of those who have been driven penniless to an arm of the British Queen, for protection from our Republican tyrants; and how most easily to convey others, who are ready to start, to that asylum for the oppressed. The number of colored persons in the Canadas, is variously estimated, from twenty to thirty thousand. The greater part of these are fugitives from American slavery, and the descendants of fugitives. Five thousand, or more, have fled thither, since the passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill. Most of them went from the little homes they had acquired in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. And in their precipitancy, they were obliged to sacrifice much, if not all, of their properties, for the bare

means of escape from the hunters and bloodhounds, that were let loose upon them by the Act of Congress.

Two-thirds, or more of this population may be found west of Kingston, particularly in that part of Canada which is included between Lakes Ontario and Erie on the South, St. Clair on the west, and Huron, North. I have heard of fourteen places within this District, where there are settlements of colored people, varying from 200 to 1500 souls and more. In and around Toronto, it is said, there are about 1500, many of them recently driven out of those States by the cruelty of our Government. In and about Hamilton, a city at the head of Ontario, there are 1000 or 1200. At St. Catherine's, and in the Niagara District, there cannot be fewer than 1500.—St. Catherine's is a city of about 6000 on the Welland Canal. Rev. Hiram Wilson, who has for many years devoted himself to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the American exiles, is now located here; and from him I gathered much information on the subject before us. In London city and District, there may be 1200, and in Queen's Bush, and the County of Wellington, as many more.

Further west in Colchester, there are perhaps 1300, and in Amhertburg, nearly the same number. These last named places are not far from the river, 15 or 20 miles south of Detroit. Directly across the river from that city, is Sandwich, where is a population of 6 or 800, and in Chatham, sixty miles east of Sandwich, there are not fewer. In most of the towns of that neighborhood there are many of our fugitive countrymen.

In Sandwich lives Henry Bibb, whose remarkable adventures, in making his escape three times from slavery, have been related by himself in several of our cities, and since published in a neat volume. He is there rather than in Detroit, because, noble as have been his exertions, unstinted his sacrifices, for the boon of freedom, there is so little respect in this despotic Republic for the rights of colored men, that he cannot safely remain within our borders. Mr. Bibb is engaged in publishing a semi-monthly paper—"The Voice of the Fugitive." He ought to be abundantly sustained in this undertaking, as he can disseminate by it just such information as those must need, who are looking to Canada as the only asylum on this continent

from oppressors. "The Voice of the Fugitive" has already given us many articles of great value.

His wife was Miss Mary E. Miles of Rhode Island, a well educated young lady, an alumna of the Lexington Normal School.—For the last eight months this estimable woman has devoted herself with great assiduity to the instruction of the children of the fugitives. I feel bound in duty to make it know that hitherto Mrs. Bibb has received no compensation for all her labors, or not more than ten dollars. When this fact shall be generally known, I hope the friends of education in the United States and in Canada will see to it that she shall derive from her daily toil, at least her daily bread.

Of the Dawn Settlement, we have heard much, especially while it was under the management of that very enterprising, but I fear not very judicious, man, Father Henson. It is situated some sixty-five miles N.N.E. from Detroit, at the head of navigation, on Sydenham River, a tributary of the St. Clair. The lands are high, rich and fertile; and the location is a healthy and advantageous one. The settlement was commenced about 25 years ago by several white and several colored families. But it was first brought into notice about twelve years since, by the late lamented philanthropist, James Canning Fuller of Skaneateles. He had obtained from sundry benevolent persons in England, seventeen hundred dollars to be expended, as he might deem advisable, for the benefit of the fugitives in Canada. He determined upon the establishment of a school. He selected this location, purchased two hundred acres of land, and erected a school house and some other buildings for the accommodation of teachers and pupils. Believing it to be the dawn of a brighter day for a much injured class of his fellow-beings, he called it Dawn School, and the school has given its pleasant name to the whole town. There are now about five hundred colored people there. For several years it was principally under the management of Josiah Henson, a somewhat remarkable self-emancipated man, whose biography has been written by Hon. Samuel A. Eliot of Boston. The colony and school did not flourish under his direction; and a year ago the property of the school was transferred to the care of "the Board of the American Baptist Free Mission Society." We may reasonably hope that, under their auspices, this institution will be revived and become a great blessing to those people,

colored and white, who may settle themselves near to it. Immediately upon receiving this charge, the above named society sent thither the Rev. Samuel H. Davis, who is reputed to be a man of experience, ability and piety. As soon as practicable, he re-opened the school, and kept through the winter with increasing success until the time of my last advices, when there were about sixty pupils. Sixteen of these are promising young persons, of both sexes, who are to be sustained there four years, on condition that they devote themselves assiduously to study, and afterwards to, instruction, if they shall become competent to that work. If this society could be furnished with the means for repairing the present buildings or putting up new ones, many more pupils could be accommodated and taught. As things are, the teacher, I am informed, has been obliged to refuse many applications for admission.

Besides the one at Dawn, this "Free Mission Society" has sustained a school at Chatham, and another at Hamilton, both of which are said, to be in the hands of devoted teachers, and to be attended by as many pupils as can well be accommodated and instructed.

In addition to these things, "the society" have supported as a missionary, the Rev. Wm. P. Newman, whose labors the past ten months have been unremitted. He has aided in the Dawn School as occasion has required; has been the distributer of clothing and food, which have been forwarded to him for the relief of the destitute at Dawn, Chatham and elsewhere, and has preached to several churches in the region round about.

Since October last, the Rev. G. Ritchie of West Exeter, Otsego County, has devoted himself to the service of "the American Baptist Free Mission Society" in behalf of the fugitives in Canada; from him I have received much information; and he will be happy to communicate with all who may be interested in them.

There is another important colored settlement in the township of Raleigh, about eight miles from Chatham. It was established by "the Elgin Association," which was incorporated by Act of Parliament last year; and named after the present Governor of the Canadas, Lord Elgin, who is one of its patrons.

The tract of land on which this settlement

is commenced, contains nine thousand acres, which were purchased from government for sixteen thousand dollars, all of which was raised in Canada by "The Elgin Association." The land is intersected by roads of convenient distances, and divided into lots of fifty acres each. These are offered for sale to colored persons of approved moral character, who will become settlers upon their lots.—The terms are two dollars and fifty cents per acre, one tenth to be paid down, and the balance in nine equal annual instalments with interest.

It was thought best by this association not to give these lots of land, but to sell them at a very moderate price, and thus create some stimulus to exertion, and impress upon the fugitives the duty and necessity of self-support.

The association are confident their experiment will show that most colored men are able and willing to provide for themselves, when placed in circumstances that are at all favorable. They ask nothing for the fugitive, if he be in health, but that his rights as a man may be secured to him, and he be furnished with a fair opportunity to supply his own wants, and to provide for those dependent upon him.

Thus far, the success of the operation has exceeded the expectations of its projectors. Seventy families have settled there. Four thousand acres have been sold to them.—There is a wholesome spirit of industry and enterprise throughout the settlement. Some have already paid the whole price of their lots, others have paid five, and others four instalments, although it is only a year last November since the sales were commenced.—All are determined to pay for their lots before the expiration of the time allowed. A certificate of good moral character, and of industrious habits is, in every case, required of all who would be admitted into this association. Three fourths of the settlers are fugitives, some of them, however, have been in Canada several years before the passage of "the Mason and Webster Bill" of Sept., 1850. The rest are either free born, or have been long enough in the Province to have become British subjects. Seven years' residence is necessary to that end. So soon however, as a colored man becomes a householder, he is entitled to vote for township and county officers. But not until he has become a British subject, can he vote for members of Parliament.

In the Elgin Settlement, there is a good school, taught by a young man from the Knox College at Toronto. There are about sixty

pupils in regular attendance, nearly half of whom are the children of the white neighbors. At first, some prejudice against the colored children was manifested, but there is now perfect harmony among the scholars of every complexion. The school has been supported hitherto, with the exception of some small contributions from the United States, by the Presbyterian Church of Canada.—The ladies of Pittsburgh have presented a handsome Sunday School library, and five Missionary maps. It is to be very much desired, that collections of well chosen books should be sent to the day schools, at each of the settlements.

The Rev. William King has the immediate supervison of the Elgin settlements: I believe him to be a judicious, as well as a devoted friend of our exiled countrymen. I have been told that he once resided in one of our Southern States, and by marriage, came into the possession of slaves. But he was not at ease in that possession. Questions arose that troubled his conscience, and he had little peace with himself, until he had determined to devote himself to the improvement and elevation of that portion of the human family, whose rights and feelings he saw to be sneeringly outraged. He removed with his slaves to Canada, and if not the projector of "the Elgin Settlement," he had been from the first, the active, efficient agent of this benevolent project.

The Elgin plan, with more or less modification, I think may furnish a good model for much more extended operations, in behalf of the fugitive settlers in Canada.

And there will be need of much larger provisions than have hitherto been made, for the immediate sustenance and future self-support of the thousands who have been and will be driven out of our country. The Fugitive Slave Bill has converted our Northern States into hunting grounds for the slaveholders. Undoubtedly that Bill
must become a dead letter; every attempt to carry out its provisions aggravates the public indignation. But it cannot be killed to day, nor this year. Too many of our great men, in church and state, have wickedly committed themselves to the support of this infernal compromise to allow us to hope that it will be abandoned without reiterated attempts to enforce it.—The assaults made upon Gibson, Shadrach, Mrs. Williams and Daniel; the doom of Long, Simms and Bouldin, are thunder tones in

every fugitive's ear, admonishing him to escape while he may. Many, who have been living for years securely, as they supposed, have now taken the alarm; and, if I may judge from what I see immediately around me, there will not be fewer removals to Canada in the course of ten months to come, than there have been since the passage of the abominable Bill. Nor will this attempt to quench all hope in the bosoms of those who are still in the land of bondage, have the intended effect upon them. The desire for freedom is stimulated by all endeavors to repress it. There will be as many escapes from slavery hereafter, as there have been heretofore.—Those fugitives who succeed in reaching Canada, especially if they have their families with them, will be found entirely poor. Even of those who have been several years resident in the free states, not many of them will have much more than enough to pay the expenses of their removal to their new home, especially as in most cases they may be obliged to make great sacrifices of the little properties they may have acquired, since they came to the North. It will be impossible for so many as have gone to Canada, added to the thousands already there, to get employment in the service of others enough to furnish them with the means of comfortable living, if this were all they ought to seek after. The only remedy for the poverty and suffering of these people is to be found in their becoming owners and tillers of the soil; and in the influences of good mental and moral culture. But they have not, of themselves, the means requisite for the purchase of lands, much less for the establishment of schools, and the support of ministers of religion. These must be in part at least provided for them by the benevolent, whose attention can be drawn to these peculiar claims.

The success of the experiment made by "the Elgin Association" fixes our thoughts upon their plan, as in the main, the most judicious and feasible. We are, therefore, happy to report that a project of the kind, only much more extended, is already on foot. Notices have already been given in The Voice of the Fugitive and in Frederick Douglass' Paper, of a movement some time ago at Detroit, to procure from the British Government, either by grant or purchase, thirty or fifty thousand acres of the now unoccupied lands of Canada West, to be disposed of to

colored people, somewhat on the plan adopted by the Elgin Association. The Rev. C. C. Foote of Michigan, well known as an indefatigable man, and most devoted fried of the colored people, is now in the field soliciting aid for the purpose of carrying this benevolent project into operation. At the opening of the next session of Parliament, this subject will be introduced by our tried and untiring fellow-laborer, Hon. George Thompson: and in his hands we may promise ourselves that our application will not be wholly in vain. The details of the plan may be, of course, somewhat modified by the response we receive from the British Government.—Meanwhile we earnestly recommend the Rev. C. C. Foote to the attention and confidence of all to whom he apply for assistance. He will give an amount of information on this point, which cannot be embodied in our report.

I shall probably give, in another article, some more extended account of the condition and prospects of the colored population in the Canadas. I will here ony add, that those who have settled in the cities, are in very much the same condition that we find them in, and about our cities in these Northern States. A few of those who have been several years there, have acquired wealth. The many are in straightened circumstances, and are engaged for the most part in menial services; very few, if any, excepting recent comers, suffering extreme want. Those colored persons who have settled in the country, especially those who have been able to procure land, are generally comfortable. Some of them are thriving farmers. In those places where the fugitives, since last September, have principally congregated, there has been a great deal of destitution and suffering, in some few instances, absolute starvation.—During the warm season, all have been, for the time being, somewhat relieved. But on the approach of the coming winter, there is reason to apprehend a recurrence of scenes of misery; certainly if the fresh fugutives shall generally go to the same places whither those of the last year went. This, they will be very likely to do, as the access to those places will be found easier than to others less frequented.

To provide for the wants of the many, who have been able during the passing summer to

do no more than earning their daily bread, and still more, for the wants of such as may reach that land of freedom, after the cold season shall have commenced, it is absolutely necessary that generous contributions should be made, especially of warm body, and bed clothing. The suffering from cold, is more frequent and greater than hunger.

It is to be hoped the benevolent will not be deceived, as many, I presume, have been by impostors who have gone about the country soliciting aid for "the fugitives." None should give to any persons, who are not accredited agents of some association, whose purposes and officers are known, unless they may have letters of introduction from individuals known to be the true friends of our fugitive countrymen. All persons wishing to contribute clothing or food for the relief of such as may be exposed to suffering in Canada, the ensuing fall and winter, we advise to put up such articles securely, in boxes or barrels, direct them carefully to responsible persons, and forward them, (expenses paid,) by the way of Oswego, Rochester, Buffalo, or Detroit. Boxes or barrels sent to Toronto, had better be directed to the care of Rev. D. Willis, or Mr. Thomas Henning, the President and Secretary of the Canada Anti-Slavery Society. Those sent to St. Catherine's, should be directed to the care of Rev. Hiram Wilson; to Sandwich, Mr. Henry Bibb, Editor of the "Voice of the Fugitive;" to Raleigh, Rev. Wm. King; to Dawn, Sydenham River, Rev. Wm. P. Newman. Other names will be hereafter added to this list.

In conclusion, let me say, I shall be grateful to any persons who may correct any mistakes I may have made, or give me any further information on any of the points to which the above communication is directed.

Samuel J. MayMay, Samuel Joseph

Samuel Joseph May (1797-1871) mixed abolitionism with a variety of other humanitarian concerns during his long career as a Unitarian clergyman. Boston-born and Harvard-educated, May studied theology at Harvard Divinity School and was ordained in 1822. During his forty-year ministry he championed such causes as temperance, women's rights, pacifism, universal education, and abolitionism. Originally a supporter of African colonization, May joined the abolitionist ranks in 1830, supported Prudence Crandall's efforts to establish a school for black youths in 1833, and enjoyed a long tenure as an agent of the New England Anti-Slavery Society. During the 1840s and 1850s he helped many fugitive slaves reach Canada; in 1851 he helped rescue Jerry McHenry from slave catchers inSyracuse, New York. After the Civil War he worked with black colleagues such as Jermain W. Loguen and Douglass to fight racial segregation in New York schools. Donald Yacovone, Samuel Joseph May and the Dilemmas of the Liberal Persuasion, 1797-1871 (Philadelphia, 1991); Pease and Pease, Bound with Them in Chains, 276-307; NCAB, 2:313; DAB, 12:447-48. .