Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-04

JOURNAL OF REV.. c. AsPENWALL.

For The Freeman
JOURNAL OF REV.. c. ASPENWALL.
ERIE CANAL BOAT, June 4, 1915.
,MeSSrs EdttorS:-You and your readers will
doubtless be glad to know that am nearly through
with my notes by the way. From Dawn walked
to Chatham, which is beautifully situated at the
head Of navigation on the river Thames This
is one of the finest natural situations in the prov
nce for fourshing town. 1t is in the midst Of
one of the finest counties of land to be found on
the continent; but tho doIeiul want Of enterprise
in the community, together with the whitening
csrse of intemporance, have blasted its prospects,
poisoned its morals and made it miserable rum
hole. 1t has three distiIleries in active operation,
which monopolizes a large share of the business of
the place. The number of coored people here,
think must be over two hundred. They have no
meeting house, but intend to build one soon. /
spent Sabbath with them in a school house
which was crowded to Overlooking, and enjoyed
fine season. They had but two public exercises
-one at eleven, and the other at six, and attended
a Sabbath school at nine and three. The super
intendent, brother black from Michigan, request
ed me to hear class of seven or eight, whose
teacher was absent. Tho first | came to was
respectable, looking, welI-drosscd man, who began
to be somewhat gray with age When inquired
after the lesson, he presented me with his spelling
book, and said that he knew ga part of them"
turned to the alphabet and found that he had
learned about two thirds Of tho letters. lie had
escaped from slavery in Tennessee but few
Tba eli NIL nh in t<
education, were, that by faithful attendance on
the Sabbath school, (for he had time and means
for enjoying no other advantagcs,) he should,
some time, be able to read his bible for himself
His simplicity and earnestuess in reference to this
object were deeply affecting, The next came to
in course, ives q man some older than myself who
had been ont from slavery about tho same Icnqlh
of time, and had learned his letters, but was not
able to read in two syIlables. He, too, manifest
ed the same simplicity and earnestness, and evil
IDENTIFY possessed a strong mind, and true christian
spirit. Another, was a smart young man from N.
Orleans, about twenty two years old. Ho had es-
capped about year since, and could read in the
Testament little, hut thought that, by persever
ing effort, he should eventually obtain toIerabe
education. | spent the hour and half, the time
allowed for the school, in teaching and encourage
ing them, and only regretted that it was so short
These are fair specimens of thousands in Canada,
who are surrounded by population that is as in
different to their wants and interests as the BARI
room politicians of New England.
II is fifty miles from Chatham to Detroit, which
Travelled on a steam boat down the river Thames,
and through lake St. Clair, ssNaa Tie AZ
tho river had a fine view of
between three rand four thousand a.
covered with large droves of horses d.
At Detroit there Isl large number of co.,
pie, and generally very good state ofA4e
manifested among the white people towards thew
large share of them are from slavery and yet
am told by very intelligent men, that they consider
themselves almost, if not entirely, safe from the
power ofsIaveholders. Their number is SO large,
and they have so many intelligent and active
friends, that it would be next toinaasihle to get
them away by kidnapping pf
the U. S. District Cour6 l
through the instn
and is now an Rck
school, it is doubtiH
er can make him say
due" from one man to am
has already robbed him of
gears of his life and his hard eat
There are two coored churcIe
Baltists have a good meeting house, e.
told is filled to overlooking every SObbat
Monroe, a colored man, is their minister,
teaches school of some seventy children ia
vesiry. The Methodist society are in great "a
of better house than they now have. A broth
John NJ. Brown, from Oberlin, their preseA
preacher, who also teaches q colored school, in
tends visiting the eastern States soon for the pur-
pose Of soliciting something to aid them in build
ing.
Maiden is eighteen miles down the river, on the
Canada side, aud is probably the greatest crossing
place for fugitives the line. 1t is sometimes
called freedoms west gate" Since an under
ground rail road, through the middle OF Illinois
has been opened, and another through Indiana,
much larger number have arrived at this place
Ihan formerly This is brother Rice's field of la