The Underground Railroad
the 2d inst., for the purpose of organizing a Vigilance
Committee.
On motion Samuel Nickless was appointed chairman, and William
Still secretary. J.M. McKim then stated at some length, the
object of the meeting. He said, that the friends of the fugitive
slave had been for some years past, embarrassed, for the want of
a properly constructed active, Vigilance Committee; that the old
Committee, which used to render effective service in this field
of Anti-slavery labor, had become disorganized and scattered,
and that for the last two or three years, the duties of this
department had been performed by individuals on their own
responsibility, and sometimes in a very irregular manner; that
this had been the cause of much dissatisfaction and complaint,
and that the necessity for a remedy of this state of things was
generally felt. Hence, the call for this meeting. It was
intended now to organize a committee, which should be composed
of persons of known responsibility, and who could be relied upon
to act systematically and promptly, and with the least possible
expenditure of money in all cases that might require their
attention.
James Mott and Samuel Nickless, expressed their hearty
concurrence in what had been said, as did also B.N. Goines and
N.W. Depee. The opinion was also expressed by one or more of
these gentlemen, that the organization to be formed should be of
the simplest possible character; with no more machinery or
officers than might be necessary to hold it together and keep it
in proper working order. After some discussion, it was agreed
first to form a general committee, with a chairman, whose
business it should be to call meetings when necessity should
seem to require it, and to preside at the same; and a treasurer
to take charge of the funds; and second, to appoint out of this
general committee, an acting committee of four persons, who
should have the responsibility of attending to every case that
might require their aid, as well as the exclusive authority to
raise the funds necessary for their purpose. It was further
agreed that it should be the duty of the chairman of the Acting
Committee to keep a record of all their doings, and especially
of the money received and expended on behalf of every case
claiming their interposition.
The following persons were appointed on the General Vigilance
Committee:
GENERAL VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
Robert Purvis,
William Still,
Charles H. Bustill,
P. Williamson,
Samuel Nickless,
B.N. Goines,
Morris Hall,
J.M. M'Kim,
Nathaniel Depee,
Isaiah O. Wears,
Charles Wise,
John D. Oliver,
Jacob C. White,
Prof. C.L. Reason,
Cyrus Whitson,
Henry Gordon,
J. Asher,
W.H. Riley,
J.P. Burr,
Robert Purvis was understood to be Chairman of the General
Committee, having been nominated at the head of the list, and
Charles Wise was appointed treasurer. The Acting Committee was
thus constituted:
William Still, chairman, N.W. Depee, Passmore Williamson, J.C.
White. This Committee was appointed for the term of one year.
On motion, the proceedings of this meeting were ordered to be
published in the "Pennsylvania Freeman."
(Adjourned.)
William Still, Secretary. Samuel Nickless, Chairman.
The Committee having been thus organized, J.M. McKim, corresponding
secretary and general agent of the Pennsylvania Anti-slavery Society,
issued the subjoined notice, which was published shortly afterwards in
the "Pennsylvania Freeman," and the colored churches throughout the
city:
"We are pleased to see that we have at last, what has for some
time been felt to be a desideratum in Philadelphia, a
responsible and duly authorized Vigilance Committee. The duties
of this department of Anti-slavery labor, have, for want of such
an organization, been performed in a very loose and unsystematic
manner. The names of the persons constituting the Acting
Committee, are a guarantee that this will not be the case
hereafter. They are--
William Still (Chairman), 31 North Fifth Street,
Nathaniel W. Depee, 334 South Street,
Jacob C. White, 100 Old York Road, and
Passmore Williamson, southwest cor. Seventh and Arch Streets.
We respectfully commend these gentlemen, and the cause in which
they are engaged, to the confidence and co-operation of all the
friends of the hunted fugitive. Any funds contributed to either
of them, or placed in the hands of their Treasurer, Charles
Wise, corner of Fifth and Market Streets, will be sure of a
faithful and judicious appropriation."
PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES.
ESTHER MOORE.
For many years no-woman living in Philadelphia was better known to the
colored people of the city generally, than Esther Moore. No woman, white
or colored, living in Philadelphia for the same number of years, left
her home oftener, especially to seek out and aid the weary travelers
escaping from bondage, than did this philanthropist. It is hardly too
much to say that with her own hand she administered to hundreds. She
begged of the Committee, as a special favor, that she might be duly
notified of every fugitive reaching Philadelphia, and actually felt hurt
if from any cause whatever this request was not complied with. For it
was her delight to see the fugitives individually, take them by the hand
and warmly welcome them to freedom. She literally wept with those who
wept, while in tones of peculiar love, sincerity, and firmness, she
lauded them for their noble daring, and freely expressed her entire
sympathy with them, and likewise with all in the prison-house. She
condemned Slavery in all its phases, as a "monster to be loathed as the
enemy of God and man."
Often after listening attentively for hours together to recitals of a
very harrowing nature, especially from females, her mind would seem to
be filled with the sufferings of the slave and it was hard for her to
withdraw from them even when they were on the eve of taking up their
march for a more distant station; and she never thought of parting with
them without showing her faith by her works putting a "gold dollar" in
the hand of each passenger, as she knew that it was not in the power of
the Committee to do much more than defray their expenses to the next
station, to New York sometimes, to Elmira at other times, and now and
then clear through to Canada. She desired that they should have at least
one dollar to fall back upon, independent of the Committee's aid. This
magnanimous rule of giving the gold dollar was adopted by her shortly
after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, which daily vexed her
righteous soul, and was kept up as long as she was able to leave her
house, which was within a short time of her death.
Not only did Esther Moore manifest such marked interest in the fugitive
but she likewise took an abiding interest in visiting the colored people
in their religious meetings, schools, and societies, and whenever the
way opened and the Spirit moved her she would take occasion to address
them in the most affectionate manner, in regard to their present and
future welfare, choosing for her theme the subjects of temperance,
education, and slavery. Nor did she mean that her labors in the interest
of the oppressed should cease with her earthly existence, as the
following extracts from her last will and testament will prove:
2d Item. I give and bequeath to my executors, hereinafter named,
the sum of Twelve hundred dollars, in trust to invest in ground
rent, or City of Philadelphia Loans at their disposal or
discretion to pay the interest or income arising therefrom
annually. To be applied, the interest of the Twelve hundred
dollars above mentioned, for educational purposes alone, for
children of both sexes of color, in Canada, apart from all
sectarian or traditional dogmas, which is the only hope for the
rising generation. The application of this money is intended to
remain perpetual.
7th Item. I give and bequeath to my executors the sum of one
hundred dollars, to be expended by them in educating and
assisting to clothe Phaeton and Pliny J. Lock, the sons of
Ishmael Lock, deceased, and Matilda Lock (his wife). My will is
that it shall be given out discretionally by my executors for
the purpose above mentioned.
17th Item. I give and bequeath to Oliver Johnson, editor of the
Pennsylvania Freeman, one hundred dollars, if he be living at my
death; if not living, to go with the remainder of my estate. My
will is that if Oliver Johnson be not living at my death his
bequest go with my estate.
18th Item. I give and bequeath to Cyrus Burleigh, lecturer and
agent for the Pennsylvania Anti-slavery Society, one hundred
dollars, if Cyrus be living at my death. If not living at my
death, his bequest, Cyrus Burleigh's, I wish to go with the
residue of my estate. The untiring vigilance of these two young
men, in devoting the best of their days to the rescue and
emancipation of the poor and down-trodden fugitives has obtained
for them a warm place in my heart. And may heaven's richest
blessings reward them. They have ministered more than "the cup
of water."
Item 19th. I give and bequeath unto the Association for the care
of Colored Orphans of Philadelphia, called the Shelter for the
use and benefit of colored orphans of both sexes, to be paid
into the hands of the treasurer for the time being, for the use
of said Society all the rest and remainder of my estate.
I wish my Executors or Trustees _to carry out_ my views in
regard to the education of colored children in Canada, by paying
over the interest arising annually from the twelve hundred
dollars mentioned in the second item to such school or schools
as in their judgment they may deem best. My desire being the
benefit of such children who may be in the same neighborhood
with them. The interest arising from the twelve hundred dollars
mentioned in second item for the purpose of educating colored
children in Canada is intended to remain perpetual.
* * * * *
I give and bequeath to William Still, of Philadelphia, now
employed in the Anti-slavery office, in Fifth St., Philadelphia,
February 21, the sum of one hundred dollars; and request my
executors and trustees to pay over that amount out of my estate.
Esther Moore was not rich in this world's goods, but was purely
benevolent and rich in good works towards her fellow-men, hating every
form of oppression and injustice, and an uncompromising witness against
prejudice on account of color. Such a friend as was Esther Moore during
these many dark years of kidnapping, slave-catching, mob violence, and
bitter prejudice which the colored people were wont to encounter, should
never be forgotten.
The legacy devised for educational purposes was applied in due time,
after one of the executors in company with his wife, Dr. J. Wilson and
Rachel Barker Moore, visited the various settlements of fugitives in
Canada, expressly with a view of finding out where the fund would do the
most good, in accordance with the testator's wishes. And although the
testator has been dead seventeen years, her legacy is still doing its
mission in her name, in a school, near Chatham, Canada West.
In order to complete this sketch, it is only necessary that we should