Daily American telegraph., 1852-04-24
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH


The following extract and editorial comment
were published in this paper on Wednesday last
FUGITIVE SLAvEs.-The report of the Toronto
(Canada) Anti-Slavery Society, just published,
puts the number of fugitive slaves who have en-
tered Canada, during the last two years, at be-
tween five and six thousand The whole number
of colored persons in Canada is estimated at thirty
thousand.-E1ch.
How are these negroes circumstanced in Can
ada? Are they comfortable and prosperous
Do they stand the climate well : Do they make
good subjects? Are they not socially prescribed?
Are the people willing to receive many more Of
them We ask no idle questions. We are friendly
to the negro and desire his happiness and per-
manent welfare 1t is our belief that these can
best be promoted in Africa, and that he can
there do most good; but we are not opposed to
any scheme that will promote his welfare. Among
the professed friends Of the coored race however,
there are two sets Of motives--one really favor
able to him, the other merely hostile to the slave
owner We realize the former only, and will 60
as far as the farthest in the prosecution Of it's
dictates
To this the following reply has been received :
HALL or REPRESENTATIVES,.
April %, 1852.
MEssRs. ED1ToRs: In your paper of Wednes-
day evening you inquire whether tho fugitive
slaves who fed to Canada within the last two
years are comfortable and prosperous? And as
you express an honest desire for information, |
will remark that, from the intelligence furnished
by the missionaries, and from the agents who
havo travelled among them, and from letters re.
ceived from fugitives themselves, there was much
suffering during the autumn and winter of 1850
and 1861. This arose from the large number
who fed there upon the passage Of the fugitive
law which passed in September previous. They
were destitute of household furniture, bedding,
clothing, and provisions. The latter they easily
obtained there; but agents were sent from the
benevolent people of the States bordering upon
Canada with clothing, bedding and furniture,
and their situation was at length rendered COM
Portable, until they had an opportunity by their
labor to provide for themselves. The country
occupied by the agricultural portion of the fug-
tives is productive and healthy. They obtain
their lands of the government at a very trifing
expense, and many who have been there for
years are now whealthy live in good style, and
educate their families. Others appear destitute
of energy, and incapable of exerting the neces-
sary skill and industry to obtain competence,
though / think there is far less abject poverty
among them than is to be seen among the free
population in this city.
Another class is scattered throughout the prin-
cipal towns and villages of Canada west, en-
ployed as walters and hostlers at public houses.
They are generally in comfortable circumstances.
You inquire, Do they make good subjects? My
information leads me to think there is no more
crimes committed by them than by the same
number of white people of the same intelligence.
You inquire whether they are socially pre-
scribeds understand they POSSESS and exercise
all the political rights and privileges of white cit
liens, and that complexion has but little influence
upon their social relations with the white people.
You inquire, Are the people willing to receive
more of them? ! understand they are willing to
receive and to welcome all who come-to furnish
them with lands, to admit them as free citizens
of her Majcstys province.
Very respectfully