New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-21
THE FUGITIVE NEGROES IN CANADA.

Pupnrneib OF tnht paper 70 inquire INTO INC oonoon Va
the coored people In Canada After carefully reading
tie article in question have hesitation IN saying
that, while many of the assertions are correct or but
eighty exaggerated others are, to my certain kaowl
edge, fslst and still others / beliere to be 30.
Passing by the slight geographical inaccuracies Of
the writer which are perhaps psrdonsbe in stranger
and at all events not 50 bad the assumption BY
Frank Lssliss Illustrated Paper, the other day that
the Victoria Bridge connects Canada with the United
States--aIlow to remark that have hitherto La
bored under the impression that Hessabs took part
in the war Of 1912. The statement of The Heralfs
correspondent to that effect think is untrue. In the
same paragraph he remarks: In Mersey and Romney,
the people will not suffer negro to remain within
"the borders of the township over night" This
knop to be false for, thank Providence, Canada s
free country; and innocent man may stay where he
pleases Mob law has not yet gained the aseendancy;
and If "A negro should be threatened with expulsion or
wrong the law is powerful and impartial, and always
ready to afford protection to all men irrespective OF
color Tie cool assertion that the Northern town.
" ships Of Kent County are too cold for the negro
race is rather funny than otherwise. have found
negroes domesicated in all parts of Canada West the
climate throughout which is rather mlder than in
the northern part OF this State; and l have never
Noticed thai they suffered from the cold than the
whites.
The statement that " no white woman was cafe at
all times from assault and those who were rearing
daughters in that part OF Canada might well tremoe
at the danger BY which they threatened" Is an
unmitigated elander. / have lived in that country
nearly twenty five years, during considerable por'
ton Of which time 1t part OF my duty, as ascot
ale editor of daily paper, to examine all the perodi-
calls exchanging Herewith and never heard Of such
a case occurring in the country. L do not know the
CAGES nssnced by the writer to be fase, but believe
them TO be go.
10, a;d fhaf makes distinction betWe0n
black and white and a consequence, colored chill
dren throughout the Province wherever have been,
are freely admitted to the public schoos to all the adj
yaptages accorded to white children. When child at
school, my seat was but one remove from that occu-
pied by ccored boy; and near ss can remember,
he was 90 much on an equality with his white COM
,eers in Point of talent he in point Of privilege.
Whenever have visited Canadian public schools, 1
have invariably colored children enjoying their
advantages where euch sesdent in the section.
need only smile at the often-repeaed assertion
that Great Britain only wishes 10 use the Slavery ag
tation wedge to split the United States. ~ Is SUI
tentatively ridiculous and evidences the most con-
empbe ignorance of the feelings of the British PEG.
pie. -,
Element Of fugvss by benevolent associations are, IN
the main, correct First il is true that the fugitiyes
arriving in Canada penniees. Docs the writer for
The Herald think the condition of tho slaves of the
South ia vorabe to the accumulation of property BY
them Or does he think fugtives ought 10 enter the
door does their poverty hef Where have their earn
Second, it mainly trre that the negroes who have
that their hsbitaons exhibit but few OF .ko
Of life. Two reasons may be assigned for this: The
life Of the backwoods settler Is of toll and priva
ton. For years he has to labor unre%ngiy and Tor
years the is meager that unless he has some
money 10 purchase provisions with, 10 with the ut
most difficulty that he can get through. Had tho
writer In question vieited the cabins OF any lakewood,
e - L.. 1..a ~
the same picture of poverty and prvation. 1t is only
the indomtable perseverance Of the AngoSaxon, and
the knowledge that where others hare succeeded he
can that buoys up the backwoodsman till years OF
exertion bring sheir reward Where the settler
has been unaccustomed TO backwoods life, the strug
gle is etll more severe, and success uncertain The
fugitive from the South has all his life beon aeeus
toned 10 labor different from that of clearing and
cutyating An unbroken farm, that il is not wonderful
to find success more rare, and, where found not so
decided with the wbites. Again. thanks TO the be-
nefcent laws of the peculiar institution, the fugitive
from Slavery is invariably uneducated lie has been
accustomed all hs life TO depend upon others
for his support, careless of aught save tho
labor he has been compelled 10 perform. Can
il be expected that he will, all at once, take the
place and evidence the sefreance and independence
OF one trained 10 freedom and sef-supportl But
believe the principle Of these benevolent associations
to be wrong. have invariably seen the negro, when
thrown entirely upon his resources get along bet
ter than those aided by charity. But these pictures OF
will be observed that while the writer makes general
statements with regard TO poverty, crime, &c, every
TaItcular instance he adduces Of those lac saw AMI
spoke to wee of respectable persons VINO were cong
well. This proportion is much larger tnan no VIII
admit. s.,..
in selecting the worst pictures OF negro life IN canada
and emitting entirely to mention tho moiS Tna
Hamilton ST. CathariDes and other places notawordis
entioned The latter for the most part, are those who
have been born in the country, or who moved tntner
from the Free States the passage OF Tho Fugitive
Slave Law Many of them are possessed OF mo o or
lees education; and not few are highly cultivated.
They are employed as carpenters, brickiayer BLACK,
smths, white ashers, BARRIERS, woodcu'ters &e. ana
II IL my solemn conviction that they are not oenna as
average of laborDg men among the whites. IN Chst-
ham 4 is i'm possible TO Distinguish between the store
of the ooored and the white man, till you enter ana
discover the color of the owner:
The papers pubsasa BY sol0,sf bo men srs nysraby
colored men. j have heard colored preachers whom
would not have known as cOloTed, had not my eyes
revealed the fact. While in Hamilton, frequently
made purchases OF coioIed Druggist, ostao o op
nearer than Others having preference ior one
over the other have known colored ply scisns win
very extensive practice and having excellent success
With their paiients One eoored man ia hingS'oh mas
made very large fortune as dealer III horses ana as
keeter of cry stable. The most marked difference
il observable between the fugitive slaves and those
BON in Canada or the Free States. The former are
too often indeed as The Herald pictures them. The
latter are anott invariably honest, industrious and
Of more or less education sth Know
ieyeral fugitive slaves who engaged IN profitable
rolEnes. and are doing we'll for themselves and
families. -, a.
Whether or not the negro il inferior to the Cau-
rssian IL question am unable TO answer am IN.
cliped TO think Is But have not the shghtest doubt
Ibef generations of ssryitude and debaseEent have
,unk The negroes of America infinitely below their
proper sphere; and know from observation that one
generation of freedom elevated him lar above the
tai s Of the southern slave.