Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-09
The Negroes I'm Canada.

The following extract is taken from a long
statement IN the New York Herald, giving an
account OF the present state of the negro settle
ment In Canada, their history, &c.
AT the southwest point of the Province Of
Canada is neck of land running down between
Lake Erie and the Detroit river Lake ST. Clair
and the st. Clair river. 1t contains the coun-
ties of Essex and Kent, the warmest portion of
the province, and it is in those counties that
the negroes who escaped from the States mainly
congregate. Windsor, situated on the river
directly opposite Detroit is the western termi-
nus of the Great Western railway, and is in the
township of Sandwich in Essex county On the
south and southwest of Sand wich along the
Detroit river and Lake Erie, are the townships
Of Anderdon, Maiden, Colchester, Gosfield,
Mersea, and Romney.
In the three frst-named townships the ne
grOes are found in large numbers. and tobacco
growing Is now carried on there to a consider
able extent. The comparative mildness of the
climate, and the black alluyial soil appear to
favor the growth of the plant, while the negro
Is conyersant with its culture. In Gosield
township there are some blacks, but compara
lively few, as the white residents have done
their best to exclude them In Mersea and
Romney the people will not permit negro to
remain within the borders of the township over
night. These places are settled principally by
Hessians and other soldiers of the war of ISL
the government having made grants of land to
them there.
The town of Amherstburg, about eighteen
miles below Windsor, on the Detroit river, is in
the township of Maiden, and is one of the oldest
settlements in that part Of Canada 1t was laid
out as town in 1877, and was settled by fam
lies who, ut the cessiOn of Detroit chose to 90
over to the Canadian side of the river Some
years ago, tract of land. about twelve miles
from Amherstburg, was purchased by some
benevolent Qnakers for the purpose of support
as1o . t. = l.
Colchester settlement. The object was to raise
contributions to build school, and {, support
the negroes, partly by their own labor and
partl by charity But it was soon found that
the blacks preferred the charity to the labor.
and they sank into colony Of lazy, worthless
tnle'es. Inc settlement has now gone to
| pieces.
North Of Sandwich are the townships of
Maidstone Rocheste, and West Tilbury. in Es-
sex county, running along ST. Clair Along
the river and on the borders of the lake the
land is settled by French, and along the main
road running through the centre of the town
ships the residents are mainly Scotch and Eng
iish But very few negroes are there. and the
interior OF the townships are not much settled.
In Kent county, adjoining Essex, the town.
ship OF Raleigh runs to Lake Erie. that of East
Dover to Lake st. Clair and Chatham and
Dawn townships are in the interior of the
country. In these places the negroes are
densely crowded at different settlements The
northern townships of Kent county are too
cold for the black race.
"A thorough personal examination made in
all the townships named where negroes are set
tied has led to the conviction that every scheme
Tor the ameliOratiOn Of the condition of the
fugitive slaves in Canada has proved. and must
prove, failure, and that any assistance given
to the white and black abolitionists, British
and American, who are at the present time en-
gagged in running off the slaves of tho Southern
citizens, is only an injury to the negro, and
helps to transfer him from n comfortable home
and position in life to which nature has fitted
him, to plunge him into suffering, sickness,
and crime.