New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-09
CONDITION or THE FUGITIVE SLAVES
IN CANADA
To ne Editor If The " y Tribune.

To ne Editor If Then y Tribune.
SIR: The assertion has been so frequently reiterated
that the fugtives in Canada incompetent to pro-
vide for themselves that many persons consider 1t no
act Of kindness to aid them ON their fight from bond
age. Deteurined to ascertain their actual condition.
recently visited parts of the Upper Province in
which numbers of them reside. My efforts were both
successful and satisfactory.
Everything appertaining to this prosecuted people
found had been misrepresented. Evidences in album
dance were discovered 10 show that they are as com
petent TO take care of themselves as the AngoSaxons
Their rms dwellings workshops, day and Sabbath
schools are as well managed as similar matters ant
things among our Yankee population. II you should
travel from house to house. in any direction from G. I've
land among the New England farmers, you would not
find stronger evidences of advancement and comfort
abesving than were dscOverable among an equal mum
berofthese coored families On the score of Kindness,
afabilitv and good Manners 1t Is feared the former
would suffer by the comparison.
All apprehension real or simulated in regard to the
competency of the ugitves to take of themselves
may be dismissed Itls evident that the present genera
ton are rapidly accommodating wealth and power, and
il requires spirit of prophecy to predict that the
ensuing generation viii make its mark upon the page
of history. The young, OF both sexes tn harbOr
a deadly hatred toward the South and even against
our whole Union From infancy they have heard one
constant narrative of wrongs suffered by their parents
and many of them expressed both an anxiety and
determination 10 seek revenge whenever circumstances
would permit. This malignant feeling is in very many
instances mitigated and subdued in the escaped
slaves by the recoections Of their nativtes attach
ments 10 their masters and families.
Their numbers surprised me. How is il possible they
ever found THEN way 10 this land of refugee Their
ingenuity and intelligence more striking.
Without knowing how 10 read and write many of them
are sensible and iudciOus in their conversation and
actions and not few familiar with our political
history and all matters relating 10 Slavery. The want
!
for inStructrg their children. A. a consequence
the rising generation viii come upon the stage Of life
endowed with powers which may be exerted with No
tfng effect upon some Of our institutions However,
Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof"
In the vicinity of one of soiOunings two ar three
individuals among them could read. They held weekly
etings, and read publicly, to numerous audiences,
useful and entertaing books Uncle Toms Cabin had
passed it, " third reading" recently escaped slave,
black tie Of spades, could recite every incl
dent in the work, though he knew nothing about read
ing. He assured me that those scenes were almost
everyday in the cotton regions where he
had abOred for several year,.
NJ Drews Refugee Is a correct description a. far
as il goes, of what saw and beard during nv tour.
He las however withheld many important ami sink
ing details-nO doubt from polite motives heard
| reci;as which might impicate individuals and make
mauy s'aye-mOster wiser IN inquity. OF course,
they viii lot be disclosed.
From every ugitive mouthli learned that the recent
plan Of governing slaves is 10 degrade and break
GONn every hOOlc aspiration ana sentiment The
ash instruments of torture and boOd-houpds seem 20
he the means employed fec that purpose. He must b
brutaliZed before he vii become plant In this en-
hghteu,d age cannot be held as slave. a. brute
be nay be- Kept in seryitude.
This horid plan l. universally adopted with
here ana there exception II l. charged upon the
North the result of il Ant-Savery autpathies;
Yet IL the necessary consequence Of Slavery it-e
surrounded by the lights and experiences OF the Nine
teeuth Century. The poor slave suffering under the
lash. j. not allowed 70 utter compliant STRANGE
or affirmation OF hs innocence of fault or
crime. Providence has gwen him thirty thousand
tongues, in these fugtves, 10 recoun, his wroags.
They telling the horid tale to the universe
These rectss Induced me TO inquire now this mod
eTn plan of governing operated On the slaves genrr-
ally. | was assured that within the ast few wears q
feeling Of alarm, dread and hatr mas spread uniyer-
sally amorc the sCves aud someth.ae Ike desperaton
controls many Of them. However stupid careless,
or even Cit eItul they may assume % be- they are
secretly plotting mischief CT every Convenient oppor-
tuuty The strictest police cannot prevent exte sye
communication among tie slaves with remote parts OF
the Save State-, ard even with the Canals Much
has been sah about " The Underground Ralroaf"
heard something Of an Underground T'aegrapi"
/ also heard essays on pyrotechny and toxicoIogy
which evinced dangerous knowledge of the means OF
destruction, and al the time convinced NE there
can be 10 safety for LIE property on plantation
where tie process &. trCfazilg man j. prac;iced.
! was informed ty reliable authority that through
out tie s.Grctrcclt7P IA. such a. tIr,ina ,or n