Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
ORLANp, Steuben county, Indiana,
Nov. LIST. 1854.


Nov. LIST, 1854.
DEAR MARius! In my last communication | re.
ferred to our visit to Canada, and but fer making
that letter immoderately long, should have said
some things that ! want to shy now. of the condi-
ton of the ~fugitives :hcrr, From all the informa-
ton that we were able to obtain by personal oh.
s%crvation, and conversation with friends that were
informed ON the subject, we were enabled to con-
cludc that most of them are doing wei, and arc
fully able tn take care of themselves. Labor can
be readily found by all who are willing 20 work for
prices that will well repay them, and bccc-oipr
industry and economy, will enable Their. to sapply
all their needs. Gifts, in general, | believe. aro
MOI advantageous to thcm, And an evil has bocn
by those who have soli tied contributions for r,ci-
tivcs IN the Stater, and entrusted them far distri.
Duticn In the hands Of those who were lacking in
judgment, or were Liindly devoted to some sect or
party whom they have endeavorod to build up by
'he d'strlbut.on Of these gifts. SO, if the fugitivcs
""' unite with some sect or party, or send their
children to some scctarian school, clothing and
other rewards are given them, often not regarding
the necessitous condition of the f~ugitives as they
do the party influence which they wish to increase.
Perhaps nowhere are the evils of sectarianism
more manifest than among these poor fugitivcs.
Ignorant, and accustomed to be controlled, they
are too often readily moulded into any form that
some ambitious or mischicvous scctarian may re-
quire, to enable him to report a success that will
, bring from the benevolent other donations, that he
Z can use for his own advantage. This partial dis
; tribution of donations, made with the most honest
and benevolent intentions, has injured the fugitiyes
in various ways. Some, dissatisfied with surh
\. III -. - II So .-t
under various pretences, money and goods, that
they have appropriated to their own use and this
course, being more pleasant for them than labor,
has inflicted injury upon themselves and the worthy
of their own people. Some, who arrive late in the
fall aud winter especially, will always need aid
and those who wish to aid them should see to it
that the contributions for this purpose are wisely
appropriated.
There is in the vicinity Of Detroit, a Refugees
Home Society, which has purchased land in Canada,
and has sold on a credit to those who want homes,
on such terms as will do most to excite habits of
thriit and industry. THIS association also aids the
needy in procuring necessary food and clothing, as
| believe, in Il manner best for the fugitives and
those who wish to aid them. And | would recon-
mend to all who wish to aid destitute fugitiyes, to
send their donations to this Society, care of Rev.
G. G. Footc, of Detroit, who is their agent. Mr..
Foote is much devoted to the best interests Of these
people, and is e~xerting a happy influence over
them. lie is not q scctarjdH, but forms Union Re
ligious Societies among them, and encourages them
to serve God in love and Kindness to each other
recognizing as Christian brethren all who love
God and work righteousness, without regard to the
common religious scctarian pcculiarities. And we
learned with regret that Rev. Nathaniel Colver.
late of fremont Temple, Boston. and now a resi-
dent of Detroit, is disturbing this truly Christian
work, by going over to Canada, and troubling these
ignorant fugitives f.om American oppression, by
preaching to them the peculiarities of his BAPTIST
creed, mode of Baptism, and close communion,
when a card Of bakers gingerbread distributed
among them would be more beneficial than his
communion, and . kno 'ledgc of the alphabet of
more service than an understanding of all his
creeds, or observance Of all his goddess ordinances.
The school we visited is taught by Laura Navi-
land, of Adrian, Michigan, who has long been a
faithful friend Of the slave, and for whom she has
made more sacrifices than most whose names are
honored for their devotion to human liberty, Now,
without any hope Of adequate earthly reward, she
is far from her pleasant home ard children, in the
truest sense a Christian missionary to this injured
people. The world knows her not but the bless
ings of many a fugitive slave rest upon her and
the God of the oppressed knows her as one who
loves his suffering poor. We found a most beauti-
full country in Canada, opposite Detroit, with a
light, strong soil. The corn crop is excellent this
season, and the fugitivcs we visi;edhad raised GOOD
crops of all kinds, and were well prepared for
coming winter. For them, Canada is IA good home,
truly a city of refuge, to which they may fee and
be safe.
Yours, to make this land safe for them to remain
here, c.. s.. S. GRIFFING.