Year: 1860

CUMm1IIEE.


The Vigilant Committee of Philadelphia
held their annual meeting on Thursday
evening, the 9th inst, at the Brick Wes-
| leyan Church, Lombard street. Robert
Purvis, Esq, presided, and Mr.. VIM. Still
acted as Secretary


After few Introductory remarks from
the Chairman, the Secretary was called
upon to read the annual report. No ordi-
nary degree of interest and anxiety was
manifested by the entire audience as the
Secretary read of the large number of es-
capes that had come under the notice of
the Committee, under various circumstan-
ces; of the outrages and suffering that quite
number had been subjected to in various
parts of the South, on being suspected of
sympathizing with the underground rail
road; of the struggles constantly being
made on the part of the oppressed to rid
themselves of the yokes, while slavehold-
ers are ten times more active than ever to
put stop to this merciful and benevolent
movement-the underground railroad. De-
spite of search laws, the infiction of the
most inhuman punishment, and the most
sanguinary ragings Of the South on every
hand-in the face of all difficulties, "Heav-
en-ordained masters and guardians" Gun
ion savers" "kind and indulgent old mas
sas and missises," the idea of but little
work to do, and of receiving great care and
attention when old or rsick-notwithstand-
ing all these things, the adventurers for
Canada over the underground railroad still
find their way safely to the Vigiant Com
mittee, even though unaided in the least
degree by Northern gold or Northern
counsel.


In this connection, to show how some of
the passengers suffer on the way and the
courage they evince to gain their freedom,
suffice it to give few extracts from the
Committees report: "Of those claiming
special notice, the efforts and success Of
- -, a woman about forty years Of
age, with seven interesting children, de-
serves very great praise. Slavery had
been bitter lot to this truly brave moth
er. A year before she escaped two of her
eldest children had been sold away from
her. One Of her sons, boy only seven
teen years of age, had escaped and made
bis way to Canada, although she knew not
of his whereabouts until she gained the in
formation in this city At the separation
and havoc made in her family, her hus-
band, who was free man, and who had
hitherto industriously labored to provide
for his wife and little supporting the
children until they were old enough to be
of service on the plantation or bring price
in market found himself utterly incapable
of wading further through his sore trials
His mind became crazed, and he actually
died in an insane asylum short time be-
fore the mother, with the remaining child
reu, fed. In travelling, severely had they
suffered from exposure, cold, hunger, fear,
lack of clothing, &c. Nevertheless, the
single idea of freedom, in connection with
the bondage they were leaving, absorbed
the mothers thoughts, and kept her from
faltering for moment by the way. Their
every want being duly attended to-their
ragged garments exchanged for good and
decent clothing, and rest afforded-after
being provided with tickets for the entire
journey to Canada, together with large
basket of provisions and proper counsel, in
their highly improved condition they were
again started regularly on"


Among others, the following case was al
so referred to: "In this instance the poor
fugitive was subjected to an ordeal extreme
ly trying For long journey the CON-
pass he had to occupy was more limited
than the grave that awaits him, and the ac-
tual suffering he underwent for seventeen
hours was, in all probability, severer than
he will experience from sickness and death.
The plan of escape he had devised bim-
self. The attitude in which he was placed
but barely afforded hope of freedom,
while, on the other hand, there was good
ground for expecting an encounter with
death at any moment. Although he had a
cold he could not cough for fear of being
betrayed; and though sadly cramped, he