Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-10-04
From Frederick Douglass Paper.
Condition aud Prospect Of the Fugitiyes in
Canada.

Canada.
DEAR DOUGLASS You may remember
thai, at the Annual Meeting of the American
Anii-Slavery Society in this city, last May,
was appointed Chairman ofa Committee to
ascertain us far as practicable, the number
OF "iugltiyes" IN Cnnnda their places of re-
iuge; their condition aud prospects; their
immediate aud most pressing wants the
best ways of conveying to them such contri
buttons for their relief as may be gathered
la these States aud the persons, IN differ
ent localities, who may be relied upon to
make the most judicious distributions ofsuch
contributions
The number of colorcd persons in the ca
nadns, is variously estimated, from ticeniy to
thirty thousand. The greater part of these
are iugltves from American slavery, aud the
descendants of iugitives. 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, aud New
York. Aud in their precipitancy, they were
obliged to sacrifice much, il not all, OF their
properties, for the bare means of escape from
the hunters and blood-hounds, that were let
loose upon them Ivy that Act of Congress.
Two thirds, or more of this population
may be found West OF Kingston, particular
ly in that payt of Canada which is included
between Lakes Ontario aud Erie on the
South, ST. Clair on the West; and Huron,
North. have heard Of fourteen places with
in this District, where there are settlements
of colored people, varying irouI 200 to 1900
souls aud more. In aud around Toronto, il
is said, there are about 1900, many of them
recently driven out Of these Stuies by the
cruelty of Our Government. In and about
llan ilton, cily at the head Of Ontario, there
ar In0p OF 1900. At ST. Catleriue's, aud il
ni5S sj.~ssssi, tllesa caisi0t ss fewer
than 1900. ST. Cntherine's is city of nboul
6000 on the Welland Canal. Rev. Hiram
Wilson, who has for many years devoted
himself TO the temporal aud spiritual welfare
of the American eXiles, is now located here
and from him gathered much information
on the Jubject before us. In London city
and District, there may he 1900, and in
Queens Bush, aud the County of yelling
ton, MS many more.
Further West, in Colchester, there are per-
haps 1890, and IN Amhertbug nearly the
same number. These last named places are
not far from the river, ID or 20 miles south
of Detroit. Directly across the river from
that city, is Sandwich, where is population
of or 800, and in Chatham, sixty miles east
OF Sandwich, there are not fewer. ln most
Of the towns of that neighborhDo Dod there are
many OF Our fugitive counlrymen.
In Sandwich lives Henry Bibb, whose re-
markable adventures, in making his escape
three times from slavery, have been related
by himself in several OF our cities, and since
published in neat volume. Mr.. Bibb is en-
gagged in publishing scm-monthly paper
-" The Poice the Fugitive." He ought to
be abundantly sustained in this undertaking,
as he can disseminate by il just such inior-
nation as those must need, who are looking
to Canada as the only ASYLUM on this conti-
ncnt from oppressors. "IHe Voice Of the
Fugitive" has already given us many articles
of great value.
His wife was Miss Mary T.. Miles of Rhode
Island, well educated young lady, an alum
ma of the Lexington Normal School. For
the last eight months this cstiniablc woman
has devoted herself with great assiduity to
the instruction of the children of the iugi-
tives. feel bound in duty TO make it known
that hitherto Mrs. Bibb has received no COM
pcnsation for all her abors, or not more than
ten dollars.
The Dawn Settlement, is situated some
sixty-iive miles N. N. Il. from Detroit at The
head of navigation, on Sydcnham River, @
tributary of the ST. Clair. The lands are
high, rich and fertile; and the location is q
healthy and advantageous one. The settle.
ment was commenced about % years ago
by several white and several colored lami-
lies. But it was first brought into notice
about twelve years since, by the late lament
ed phllanthropist, James Canning Fuller OF
Skaneateles. lie had obtained from sundry
benevolent persons in England, seventeen
hundred dollars to he expended, as he might
deem advisable, for the benefit of the fiIgi-
tives in Canada. lie determined upon the
establishment of school. lie selected this
location, purchased two hundred acres OF
land, aud erected n school house and some
other buildings for the accommodation OF
teachers and pupils. Believing il TO be the
dawn of n brighter day for much injured
class of his fellow beings, he called il DalDn
School, and the school has given its pleasant
name to the whole town. There nre now
about five hundred colored people there
For several years it was principally under
the management OF Josiah Henson, a sonle-
what remarkable seli-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 year ago the property OF the school
was transferred to the care of "lhe Board OF
the American Baptist Free Mission Society"
Immediately upon receiving this charge, the