The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-05

Prove failure aud that any assistance given to tho
white sr' black aboonis'f, British aud Anerisan WIN
The presct ttne engaged ~ running OIL tue slaves
s. hem cin2eus Is only injury to tho negro ami
hipf 70 transfer him from comfortable home aud po
INTO sotcrmg sickness and crime, shalt proceed To lay
before your readers faithful description ef the principal
negro settlements m Western Canada aud OF the habits,
conciron and prospects Of the residents
THE RLGIN ASSOCIATION.
The settlement of Buxton, IN The township OF Raleigh
and county Of Kent about twelve miles from Chatham In
the most imporlau, negro settlement in this part probl
bly, any part of the PROVING, of Canada 1t is under
the direction Of regularly Incorporated association called
the Egn Association, and by the title OF the act of ncor
rosron its object "the settlement and moral improve
ncu; Of the coored population OF Canada" The project
az the settlement appears first to have suggested itself to
the Rev. William King Presbyterian minister North OF
Ireland man by birth, and once citizen Of the State
Of louisiana By adoption Mr.. King was the owner OF
ffeeu slaves all OF whom no emancpatcd ami brought
with him TO Canada most Of whom At the present
time residents of Buxton either Independent settlers
employees of theV former master. Three OF them
work on his farm and In his house-two men and one
bright and well looking mulato girl Mr.. King is
toned by Mrs Stowe, in her unsuccessful novel, 'Drea"
as having actually emancipated his slaves in
similar TO that prac,sed by Of the characters in the
book do not Call 10 mind the name.
preached, it met the earnest opposition and aroused
the indignation of the people Of Chatham. The earliest
meetings in regard to the experiment held, be-
eve, in Toronto; but it known what lands to
be purchased for the settlement, and the Chatham folks
had enjoyed sufficient experience In the runaway negro
line TO desire that additional inducements should be
offered to fugivcs from the States TO flock TO their vicinity
Several indignation meetings held to protest against
the project when il was finally abou, to be prac
4ou az 40
residents of the Dcghborhood whose property to be
stricken down to half its former value by this advent Of
dnkes their determination TO resort to violence
II necessary in order 10 prevent Mr. King and his blacks
from taking possession Ct the lands Informed that
on the night he was expected TO arrive, these
stationed themselves at the OF the road where ii
tnrDs up TO the settlement armed with rifles, and pre-
pared TO Shoot him down had he made his appearance.
He vas however, accidentally detained and the lawless
plot, If II really existed, was frustrated.
The name OF the association would appear TO Identity
the late Governor General Of Canada With the mo we
inert, and ! believe its projectors not I'M
wiling to suler the Impression TO go forth that
Lord Egin actually was patron Of their scheme.
The opposition OF the white residents, which has
not by any means died away at this time manifested
itself when the late Governor General visited Chatham
Very lew persons called upon him TO pay their respects,
and so marked was the neglect that he inquired its
When informed that il account of his supposed
connection with the Elgn Association he dsclamed hAv
Ing taken any part IN It's formation or having hadany
PATTY with it aud proessea enre ignoran of
siderstions that had induced the projectors 70 adopt his
name as the title Of their association.
The professed object Of the experiment to ascer
tain by trial whether the negro could made self
supporting as their own masters and propretors Of
farms, without any person to guide control Them
whether in fact, the coored population Of Canada
not t to be placed on an equality socially by the laws
OF Great Britain they are politically, with the white cti
zens The great burden imposed upon taxpayers and
upon the charitable by the involuntary and voluntary
an the pressing need of some movement that would
move the moral evil OF the idle, dissipated hieving
s@Ss from ns community to ole.
many who thoroughly understood the negro character
and who knew the imprscucabibty Of the scheme, be-
eved that while holding out additional inducements to
the fugitive blacks TO congregae the neghborhood of
Chatham, would prove failure far the improve
ment Of the race was concerned and therefore made ali
the opposition in their power. .d in.
The Association of Stockholders was formally made at
Toronto in lS49 The stock divided into shares Of
ten pounds each to the amount Of five thousand pounds
and the act Of ncor passed the 10th August
$780, gave them TO purchase nine thousand
Of the Crown or Clergy Reserve lands in the township
Of Raleigh in the county OF Kent sell the same in
lots TO coored families resident in Canada OF good moral
character" There is a provision in the act which re-
CURES that the price fixed by the Directors the
for the lands "sha not exceed the prices paid the 60
vernmen TO any greater amount than sufficient Tor tho
oIes, ner aI anu ,e SIX per cent m
AS, however, the amount 90 sufficient for the
expenses of the corporation" is indefinite sum- It can
readily be that quite snug land speculation might
lie at the bottom Of this grand scheme Of philanthropy
Indeed the sale OF the land at the settled 1.-TWO dol
bars and half per acre) which is believe, just double
The price paid TO The government, would alone realize the
snug surplus Of Sll 250 without taking into the cacua-
ton the reversons" of lots by the death of the pur
chaser. his failure 10 fulfil his contract his removal
from the settlement after making improvements which
add considerably to the prospective profits Of the specua
ton.
The management Of the institution is nominay vested
in President and two Vice Presidents, Treasurer Secre
ary and Board of twenty -four Directors who are chosen
Annually but in reality the entire control of the business
in the bands of Ar. King, who is the head and front
and body Of the project Tue land, which originally
lots OF fifty acres each, and sold to actual set
tiers at about SO SO an acre. Twelve dollars and q
annual Dstalments. Tho purchaser bound by certain
rules regulations in regard to the buildings and i'm
provements which he is required to place upon his lo
house has to be put up forthwith in size Is feet oy "A,
and Il feet high, with piazza running the whole length
OF the front Tho dwelling is set back thirty feet from
tho road, leaving garden in front, which
closed by picket fence There also regulations
corning the formation Of roads, the digging of bitches
&c, al of winch must be complied with and properly
certified TO by the local before the settler is
entitled to receive his deed.
Buxton settlement is about twelve fourteen miles
south OF Chatham and about three miles from Lake Erie
It's block Of land six miles in length along the govern
meni road to Sandwich, and three miles in width
was selected as Offering the largest quantity Of land that
could be procured In that locality IN body.
The lots are laid out in Squares and in front Of them
roads or apologies therefor cut through the forest
The land all bush land when purchased, with the
exception of few lots on the roadside, which pre-
vously in the possession OF whites large proportion
of which sold the ASSOCIATION great sacrifice
by the original settlers who were unwilling to remain in
negro nest. The land low and level, and the soil
heavy, still clay very difficult 10 work, and not likely
ever 70 prove very productive.
A drive OF two hours from Chatham over the snow,
which lay thick enough the ground TO the ire
guarcs OF an otherwise rough road brought to the
settlement After turning up from the main, into what
rs called the centre" road the country appears Wild and
unpromising for six miles, There but few houses
the way, and those Of very poor description
The fact that "a negro settlement Is is
made evident from the appearance OF black
stragglers all along the road men, women aud children,
many OF whom walk daily to Chatham from that innate
love Of crowd implanted in the negro breast and with
other object than to lounge idly in the streets Of the
town and about the market place. occasionally perhaps
swapping up stray trec that may happen TO fa in tho
way Of their fingers Now and then black horsemaa Ia
TO be seen making Roadway for the place. Once,
drove along the road, singular figure appeared in the
distance before me- and my Imagination puzzing as
il approached, TO tell what its precise character II
all dark black cloud, and looked something like
horse with well filled sack upon It's back and couple
OF wings tapping away at either side. Upon nearer
approach l found il 70 be little black Canadian
pony, bearing big black negress, in loose,
sloveply black dress, with black shawl
tied round her head. As she riding man fashion,
with entire independence of mans more convenient
habmsnts, her feet nearly touching the ground and flop
ping and down, covered only much the situation
ho~s Ar b,pel