New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-01
Effects of the Fugitive Slave Law.

To The Editor Of The Tribune
DEAR SIR: Having been absent from the City,
spending some months il a large country village
in the interior of this State, have had an oPpor-
tunity to observe in some measure the effect pro-
duced upon the coored people, by the " Fugitive
Slave Law SO called
My impressions are, that mainly the timid, and
those who have more recently strayed from the
"contenment and happiness enjoyed under the
Patriarchial institution are now rushing to the
mild and genial climate OF Canada. Many have
sacrificed what property they have acquired by
wears of toll and left this free land, in which they
are outlawcd for no crime, but loving that which
caused Patrick Henry to eXclaim " Give me
LiJe1t2, or give me DEATH !" was assured that
the selfemaucpated slaves, and the free black
and colored men, were well organized and active
in vigilance committees &c, and that they have
the sympathy of large proportion OF the moral
and religious among the white citizens But [
commenced with the intention Of giving you some
facts which came to my knowledge.
An old man is living in that place who came
years ago, when the Shareholders had sold his
wife and children to go down South, to re-
turnless distance, and hopeless bondage. He
could never them again. He is an honest, IN,
dustrous and peaceable man; member OF and
in good standing in the Baptist Church OF the
village. He married again.-ll do not stop to
take exception to that, as he has high authority
for it. if he knew it. in his own Church, namely:
a Southern Baptist Association of Ministers, who
declared THAT such separation among persons SIT
uated as our slaves are IS ctcttY separation by
death, and they believe that in the sight of God 1t
would be SO viewed. 10 forbid second marriages
IN such cases, would be to expose the parties not
only to stronger hardShips and strong temptations,
hItt q = no LAY,
agents, and a dissolution by death is not more en-
trely without their consent and beyond their con
troll, than by such separation To return Pass
ing this mans house a cottage Of two or three
rooms observed French bedstead, nice looking
bed, carpet, &c Is this strange To desire com
fort, says a French writer OF eminence, 1t IS ne
eessary to understand it, and ages have passed
over their cabins without leaving any thoughts but
those OF labor and misery. The old man mad con
cudcd to 90 to Canada; but upon being urged by
his wife, a free woman by birth, by hls brethren
and even by white citizens to stay, with tie assn
rance that if it came to the worst, they would 90
what they could To protect him; ne sad he dld
not wish 10 shed blood, and he could not trust
himself or be sure that lie would not 30 II, as he
had resolved never to go back to slavery cost
what it would. He has always had arms IN his
house, and has doubtless weapons on his person
his friends persuaded hmm TO stay, and with them
abide the result
Another case was OF young man who had nc,
CURED a little property consisting Of a house and
lot, on which he lived This he had to sell to
Spectator fer what he could get, aud with the
proceeds he started with his family for that north.
em country. which is at least not self degraded
and dissraced by Selling a man and tbrusting him
back into slavery. For, says the poet,
He who allows oppression shares the crime"
Those who remain feel that they are hunted like
the partridge on the mountains and are as fearful
and watchiul as we should be IN their places.
The mistress of honse where called told me
n Young woman who lived with her as a domestic
was suspicious Of every stranger, and so alarmed
that she watched every avenue to the house.
She would leave the doors from the kitchen to the
dining or sittingroom ajar, that she might STE
every person who approached. and have time to
escane. Some of the family missed a meat knife,
and upon inquiry it was found she had it seoreted
upon her person, She had filed her pocket with