The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-27
From the Detroit Free Press of Wednesday,
The Negro Disturbance in Canada.

The Public Schools Of ChafGw Taten IN Posses
sion By SeyerGL Hundred y egross.
SCHOOL DISTURBANCES AT SANDwlcH-THE
BEA UTIEs OF PRAcTIcAL ABoLITIoNIsM.-The
neg ro disturbances which were alluded to 10
our Issue OF yesterday, were not oVerraied 10
Importance, as is confirmed by subsequent advi-
ces, while the extent of the agitation was much
gr'iater than was at the time surmised. InTe-
ga I'd to the fiendish transaction enacted at An
deIdon, hal If OF the truth was not told. Officers
ar still IN pursuit of the rescued criminals, and
great indignation prevails throughout the whole
vicinity, so that, if they are caught and deiv-
e ted into the hands OF the populace, they will
be severely dealt with.
At Chatham, forty miles from this city,
crowd composed of several hundred negroes
took possession of the public school houses ear
ly or Monday morning, and, when the white
teachers and scholars arrived, refused 10 allow
them to enter or in any manner obtain posses
sion OF them. As there seemed to be dspo-
sIi ion TO carry matters with high hand, the au-
thorities were called In, but, from the fact the
negroes inhabiting the town far outnumber the
v hite citizens, there were no means available
except those OF Cancellation. The Africans
were headed by one Shudd, negro who has
made himself promin mt in that vicinity for
some time, having been concerned in the for
chile rescue case which occurred there two
years ago. The Mayor and Councimen assem-
oiled on the spot, acco mpanied by a majority of
the citizens. The whole town was in an up
roar in consequence of the warlike demonstra-
tlonS of the negroes, and The crowd and excite
ment were consequently very great. The ne-
groeS demanded not c My that the schools should
pc thrown o0en to them, but that they should
be allowed TO participate in their management,
which, on account G their numbers, is equiya-
lent to giving them the control. The confer
ence continued some hours, the authorities main
/ tanning concilIatory and peaceful course, and
the negroes aSsertlrg 2 .helr claims with arrogance
and violent demo onsrrations. They were final
| ly quleted by the assurance that their claims
| should be taken into consideration, and such ar
| rangementS made as could with propriety De
! brought about. This means nothing, of course,
as the demands of the negroes must be complied
with orFeslstef. In case they are complied
| with, the town, and as a consequence the sur
rounding coulltry, will be under their rule, and
if they are not, conflict may be expected be-
tween the hite and black races, in which the
former will have great difficulty IN maintain
| ing their ground, as they are in the minority
There are about twenty-five hundred negroes
| in Chatham alone.
At Sandwich, three miles below this city,
there was disturbance growing aat of the same
cause. The whites, in apporiiaFflg the school
tax, asses sSed themselves onl nlysseaving the negro
| population out, in order .hsf they might net
control the cause If education by their votes at
| the ballol-box. HE negroes were highly in-
| o. ;,,o b-I -,
on the occasion of the election OF school officers,
determined to vote. They were resisted and
driven away, aud much ll-teeing and enmhy
! engendered.
1t will be seen by all of these indications
that the negro population of our neighboriug
province is becoming organized and bold in its
opposition 10 the legitimate institutions of the
country, and oVerbearing aud insoent towards
| its righttul citizens. We may safely say that
| the hatred with which they are regarded in re-
| turn is not less violent or open than their own
/ demonstrations. There are very few whites
] tiving the borders, where this fugitive race
most congregate, so fanatic as 10 close their eyes
| to the fact that their immigration is fast tend
! ing towards the generalization of the country
As citizens they are worthless to the last degree
while crime prevails among them to an alar-
ming extent, and swells the criminal calendars
ofthe country with the most revolving Offences
| Canada has nurSed viper IN It's bosom, which
| is now preparing to turn upon 1t. The hordes
OF blacks which have for years poured into its
borderscohnties are beginning TO feel their pow
| er, and, If we mistake not, will give infinite
| trouble peiore they are again crushed down to
| their proper level.