The Underground Railroad
held Anti-slavery sentiments, but this was the beginning and end
of their offending. They possessed a farm and saw-mill, etc.,
and had established a flourishing school. These good people were
quietly following their usual employments, when, in the early
part of last winter, sixty-two armed Kentuckians rode upon
horseback to their cottage doors, and summarily informed them
that they must leave the State in ten days' time, or would be
expelled from it forcibly. All pleading was hopeless, and any
attempt at self-defence out of the question. They bowed before
the storm, and hastily gathering up their garments, in three
days' time were on their road to Ohio. Their three Christian
pastors took the same course. One of the latter has since
returned to Kentucky, to bury his youngest little boy, in a
grave-yard attached to one of the churches there. He was enabled
to preach to the people who assembled on the occasion, but was
not allowed to remain in his native State.
Another of the exiles ventured to go back to Berea, but this
immediately led to an outbreak of popular feeling, for his
saw-mill was set on fire by the mob, and presently destroyed.
The exiles are consequently still in Ohio, or wandering about in
search of employment. We have been privileged in receiving two
letters respecting them, from one of their excellent pastors,
John G. Fee. This gentleman is himself, the son of a
slave-holder, but gave up his earthly patrimony many years since
for conscience' sake, and has since made it the business of his
life to proclaim the gospel in its purity, and to use every
available means for directing all to Christ.
When speaking of Berea, Mr. Fee remarks: "The land was poor, but
the situation beautiful, with good water, and a favorable
location, in some respects. We could have had locations more
fertile and more easy of access, but more exposed to the
slave-power. It was five miles from a turnpike road, with quite
a population around it for a slave State."
In one of Mr. Fee's letters he introduces a subject which we
wish especially to bring before our friends, feeling almost sure
that many of them will respond to its importance:
"You ask, he says, if there are not noble-hearted young people
in slave-holding families? There is one whom I desire to commend
to your special prayer and regard, Elizabeth Rawlings, daughter
of John H. Rawlings, of Madison county, Kentucky. He was once a
slave-holder, but has twice been a delegate to our Free-soil
National Conventions, and is a strong friend of freedom. His
daughter has had small opportunities for acquiring knowledge,
but was in our school at Berea, and making rapid progress. Our
school was not only Anti-slavery, but avowedly Anti-caste. This
made it the more odious. When Mr. Rogers and others were about
to be driven away, she announced that she would continue the
school on the same principles. Accordingly she went into the
school-room after a few days, with a little band of small
scholars, and has perseveringly kept it up. This noble and
brave-hearted young woman is about twenty-two years of age; has
a very vigorous mind; acquires knowledge very rapidly; is very
modest; and is, I trust, a true believer in Christ. I desire to
see her fitted for the post of teacher. One year's study would
greatly benefit her. She has not gone beyond grammar and
arithmetic. I have not means or would at once give her those
advantages she needs. I once had a small patrimony, but expended
it in freedom's cause, and now live on the small salary of a
[Home] Missionary. I have a daughter of fifteen, as far advanced
as Miss Rawlings. I want to train and educate them both for
teaching, and had thought to educate the latter, and suggest to
some one to educate the other. I do not urge, but simply
suggest. This might be another cord binding the two continents.
Lewis Tappan, of New York, would receive to transmit, and I
would report."
Now if we may lay before you, dear friends, our hearts' inquiry,
it is this: "Cannot we in England, raise £50 or £60 for one
year's schooling for these two dear girls, Elizabeth Rawlings
and J.G. Fee's daughter?" It seems to us, that the one deserves
it from her noble daring, the other as a little tribute to her
father's virtues. How delightful it would be if these two young
people could become able teachers of our own rearing, and in
days to come, be looked to as maintaining schools of an elevated
character upon their native soil! We have laid the case before a
few kind friends, and already had the pleasure of forwarding £8
to Mr. Fee's care, on behalf of his valued young friend,
Elizabeth Rawlings.
CORNELIA WILLIAMS.--The next person to be referred to is
Cornelia Williams, a bright young niece of our friend, Henry H.
Garnet's, whom many of our friends kindly assisted to redeem
from Slavery, in North Carolina, about three years since. We
rejoice to say this dear girl is going on very satisfactorily.
She has been diligently pursuing her studies in a school at
Nantucket, and appears to be much esteemed by all who know her.
She kindly sends us a little letter now and then, again
returning her glowing thanks to all who assisted in procuring
her freedom. Her mother, Dinah Williams (also a slave a few
years since, and redeemed in part by the surplus of 'the Weims
Ransom Fund'), has married an estimable Baptist minister within
the last year, and Cornelia resides under their roof.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.--It is known that our much-valued friend,
Frederick Douglass, left this country suddenly for America last
spring, chiefly on account of the decease of a most beloved
little girl. Till quite recently he was intending to return to
England very soon, but this is for the present delayed, on
account of increasing and pressing engagements in the United
States. We take the liberty of quoting an extract from one of
his letters:
"ROCHESTER, July 2d, 1860.
"You hold up before me the glorious promises contained
in the sacred Scriptures. These are needed by none more
than by those who have presumed to put themselves to the
work of accomplishing the abolition of Slavery in this
country. There is scarcely one single interest, social,
moral, religious, or physical, which is not in some way
connected with this stupendous evil. On the side of the
oppressor there is power, now as in the earlier days of
the world. I find much comfort in the thought that I am
but a passenger on board of this ship of life. I have
not the management committed to me. I am to obey orders,
and leave the rest to the great Captain whose wisdom is
able to direct. I have only to go on in His fear and in
His spirit, uttering with pen and tongue the whole truth
against Slavery, leaving to Him the honor and the glory
of destroying this mighty work of the devil. I long for
the end of my people's bondage, and would give all I
possess to witness the great jubilee; but God can wait,
and surely I may. If He, whose pure eyes cannot look
upon sin with allowance, can permit the day of freedom
to be deferred, I certainly can work and wait. The times
are just now a little brighter; but I will walk by
faith, not by sight, for all grounds of hope founded on
external appearance, have thus far signally failed and
broken down under me. Twenty years ago, Slavery did
really _seem_ to be rapidly hastening to its fall, but
ten years ago, the Fugitive Slave Bill, and the efforts
to enforce it, changed the whole appearance of the
struggle. Anti-slavery in an abolition sense, has been
ever since battling against heavy odds, both in Church
and State. Nevertheless, God reigns, and we need not
despair, and I for one do not. I know, at any rate, no
better work for me during the brief period I am to stay
on the earth, than is found in pleading the cause of the
down-trodden and the dumb.
"Since I reached home I have had the satisfaction of
passing nearly a score on to Canada, only two women
among them all. The constant meeting with these
whip-scarred brothers will not allow me to become
forgetful of the four millions still in bonds."
Our friends may, perhaps, remember that the cost of _Frederick
Douglass' paper_ is but five shillings per annum (with the
exception of a penny per month at the door for postage.) It is a
very interesting publication, and amply repays the trifling
outlay. F.D. would be glad to increase the number of his British
readers. He also continues gratefully to receive any aid from
this country for the assistance of the fugitives who are so
often taking refuge under his roof. Another letter of his
remarks, when speaking of them: "They usually tarry with us only
during the night, and are forwarded to Canada by the morning
train. We give them supper, lodging, and breakfast; pay their
expenses, and give them a half dollar over."
FUGITIVE SLAVES.--We next turn to the communication of another
warm friend to the fugitives in the State of ----. The following
is an extract from a recent letter of his:
"We have had within the last week just nineteen
Underground passengers. Fifteen came last Saturday,
between the hours of six in the morning and eleven at
night. Three only were females, wives of men in the
parties, the rest were all able-bodied young men. That
they were all likely-looking it needed no southern eye
to decide, and that their hearts burned within them for
freedom was apparent in every look of their
countenances. But it is only of one arrival that my time
will allow me to speak on the present occasion.
This consisted of two married couples, and two single
young men. They had been a week on the way. To
accomplish the desired object they could see no way so
feasible as to cross the ---- Bay. By inquiry they
gained instructions as to the direction they should
steer to strike for the lighthouse on the opposite
shore. Consequently they invested six dollars in a
little boat, and at once prepared themselves for this
most fearful adventure. To the water and their little
bark they stealthily repaired, and off they started. For
some distance they rowed not far from the shore. Being
in sight of land, they were spied by the ever-watchful
slave-holder or some one not favorable to their escape.
Hence a small boat, containing four white men, soon put
out after the fugitives. On overhauling them, stern
orders were given to surrender. The boat the runaways
were in was claimed, if not the party themselves. With
determined words the fugitives declared that the boat
was their own property, and that they would not give it
up; they said they would die before they would do so. At
this sign of resistance one of the white men, with an
oar, struck the head of one of the fugitives, which
knocked him down. At the same moment another white man