The Underground Railroad
DEAR FRIEND:--The enclosed ten dollars I have made, earned in
two weeks, and of course it belongs to the slave. It may go for
the fugitives, or Carolina slaves, whichever needs it most. I am
sorry the fugitives' treasury is not better supplied, if money
could flow into it as it does into the Tract Fund; but that is
not to be expected.
Thy answer in regard to impostors is quite satisfactory. No
doubt you take great pains to arrive at the truth, but cannot at
all times avoid being imposed on. Will that little boy of seven
years have to travel on foot to Canada? There will be no safety
for him here. I hope his father will get off. John Hill writes
very well, considering his few advantages. If plenty of good
schools could be established in Canada for the benefit of
fugitives, many bright scholars and useful citizens would be
added to society. I hope these will be in process of time.
It takes the most energetic and intelligent to make their way
out of bondage from the most Southern States. It is rather a
wonder to me that so many can escape, the masters are so
continually watching them. The poor man that secreted himself so
long, must, indeed, have suffered dreadfully, and been
exceedingly resolute to brave dangers so long.
It was so characteristic of her to take an interest in everything that
pertained to the Underground Rail Road, that even the deliverance of a
little nameless boy was not beneath her notice. To her mind, his freedom
was just as dear to him as if he had been the son of the President of
the United States.
How they got on in Canada, and the question of education, were matters
that concerned her deeply; hence, occasional letters received from
Canada, evincing marked progress, such as the hero John H. Hill was in
the habit of writing, always gave her much pleasure to peruse.
In the Wheeler slave-case, in which Passmore Williamson and others were
engaged, her interest was very great. From a letter dated Salem,
September 9, 1855, we quote the subjoined extract:
DEAR FRIEND:--I am truly rejoiced and thankful that the right
has triumphed. But stranger had it been otherwise, in your
intelligent community, where it must be apparent to all who
inquire into it, that you had done nothing but what was
deserving of high commendation, instead of blame and punishment;
and shame on the jury who would bring in the two men guilty of
assault and battery. They ought to have another trial; perhaps
another jury would be more just. It is well for the credit of
Philadelphia, that there is one upright judge, as Kelley seems
to be, and his sentence will be a light one it is presumed,
showing he considered the charge a mere pretence.
I hope and trust, that neither thyself nor the other men will
have much if any of the expense to bear; your lawyers will not
charge anything I suppose, and the good citizens will pay all
else. It seems there are hopes entertained that Passmore
Williamson will soon be set at liberty. It must be a great
comfort to him and wife, in their trials, that it will conduce
to the furtherance of the good cause.
If Philadelphians are not aroused now after this great stretch
of power, to consider their safety, they must be a stupid set of
people, but it must certainly do good. * * * You will take
good care of Jane Johnson, I hope, and not let her get kidnapped
back to Slavery. Is it safe for her to remain in your city or
anywhere else in our "free land?" I have some doubts and fears
for her; do try to impress her with the necessity of being very
cautious and careful against deceivers, pretended friends. She
had better be off to Canada pretty soon.
Thy wife must not sit up washing and ironing all night again.
She ought to have help in her sympathy and labors for the poor
fugitives, and, I should think there are many there who would
willingly assist her.
I intended to be careful of trespassing upon thy time, as thee
must have enough to do; the fugitives are still coming I expect.
With kind regards, also to thy wife, your friend,
A. GOODWIN.
In another letter, she suggests the idea of getting up a committee of
women to provide clothing for fugitive females; on this point she wrote
thus:
"SALEM, 8th mo., 1st.
"Would it not be well to get up a committee of women, to provide
clothes for fugitive females--a dozen women sewing a day, or
even half a day of each week, might keep a supply always ready,
they might, I should think, get the merchants or some of them,
to give cheap materials--mention it to thy wife, and see if she
cannot get up a society. I will do what I can here for it. I
enclose five dollars for the use of fugitives. It was a good
while that I heard nothing of your rail road concerns; I
expected thee had gone to Canada, or has the journey not been
made, or is it yet to be accomplished, or given up? I was in
hopes thee would go and see with thy own eyes, how things go on
in that region of fugitives, and if it's a goodly land to live
in.
"This is the first of August, and I suppose you are celebrating
it in Philadelphia, or some of you are, though I believe you are
not quite as zealous as the Bostonians are in doing it. When
will our first of August come? oh, that it might be soon, very
soon! ... It's high time the 'reign of oppression was over.'"
Ever alive to the work, she would appeal to such as were able among her
friends, to take stock in the Underground Rail Road, and would sometimes
succeed. In a letter dated July 30, 1856, she thus alludes to her
efforts:
"I have tried to beg something for them, but have not got much;
one of our neighbors, S.W. Acton, gave me three dollars for
them; I added enough to make ten, which thee will find inside. I
shall owe three more, to make my ten. I presume they are still
coming every day almost, and I fear it comes rather hard on thee
and wife to do for so many; but you no doubt feel it a
satisfaction to do all you can for the poor sufferers."
February 10, 1858, she forwarded her willing contribution, with the
following interesting remarks:
SALEM, February 10, 1858.
DEAR FRIEND:--Thee will find enclosed, five dollars for the
fugitives, a little for so many to share it, but better than
nothing; oh, that people, rich people, would remember them
instead of spending so much on themselves; and those too, who
are not called rich, might, if there was only a willing mind,
give too of their abundance; how can they forbear to sympathize
with those poor destitute ones--but so it is--there is not half
the feeling for them there ought to be, indeed scarcely anybody
seems to think about them. "Inasmuch as ye have _not_ done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have not done it
unto me."
Thy friend,
A. GOODWIN.
When the long looked-for day of emancipation arrived, which she had
never expected to witness, the unbounded thankfulness of her heart found
expression in the appended letter:
SALEM, September 23, 1862.
DEAR FRIEND:--Thy letter dated 17th, was not received till last
night. I cannot tell where it has been detained so long. On the
22d, yesterday, Amy Reckless came here, after I began writing,
and wished me to defer sending for a day or two, thinking she
could get a few more dollars, and she has just brought some, and
will try for more, and clothing. A thousand thanks to President
Hamlin for his kindness to the contrabands; poor people! how
deplorable their situation; where will they go to, when cold
weather comes? so many of them to find homes for, but they must
and will, I trust be taken care of, not by their former
care-takers though.
I have read the President's proclamation of emancipation, with
thankfulness and rejoicing; but upon a little reflection, I did
not feel quite satisfied with it; three months seems a long time
to be in the power of their angry and cruel masters, who, no
doubt, will wreak all their fury and vengeance upon them,
killing and abusing them in every way they can--and sell them to
Cuba if they can. It makes me sad to think of it. Slavery, I
fear, will be a long time in dying, after receiving the fatal
stroke. What do abolitionists think of it? and what is thy
opinion? I feel quite anxious to know something more about it.
The "Daily Press" says, it will end the war and its cause. How
can we be thankful enough if it should, and soon too. "Oh,
praise and tanks," what a blessing for our country. I never
expected to see the happy day. If thee answers this, thee will
please tell me all about it, and what is thought of it by the
wise ones; but I ought not to intrude on thy time, thee has so
much on thy hands, nor ask thee to write. I shall know in time,
if I can be patient to wait.
Enclosed are seventeen dollars; from Amy Reckless, $1,50; J.
Bassett, $1; Jesse Bond, $1; Martha Reeve, $1; S. Woodnutt, $1;
Hannah Wheeler, $1; a colored man, 25 cents; 25 cents thrown in,
to make even; A.G., $10. Amy is very good in helping, and is
collecting clothing, which she thinks, cannot be sent till next
week. I will attend to sending it, as soon as can be, by stage
driver. May every success attend thy labors for the poor
sufferers. * * *
With kind regards, thy friend,
A. GOODWIN.
Thus, until the last fetter was broken, with singular persistency, zeal,
faith and labor, she did what she could to aid the slave, without hope
of reward in this world. Not only did she contribute to aid the
fugitives, but was, for years, a regular and liberal contributor to the
Pennsylvania Anti-slavery Society, as well as a subscriber to the
Anti-slavery papers, The "Liberator," "National Anti-Slavery Standard,"
"Pennsylvania Freeman," etc.
Having seen with joy, the desire of her heart, in the final emancipation
of every bondman in the United States, she departed in peace, November
2, 1867, in the 74th year of her age.
FAITHFUL WORKERS IN THE CAUSE.
THOMAS GARRETT.
The recent death of Thomas Garrett, called forth from the press, as well
as from abolitionists and personal friends, such universal expressions
of respect for his labors as a philanthropist, and especially as an
unswerving friend of the Underground Rail Road, that we need only
reproduce selections therefrom, in order to commemorate his noble deeds
in these pages.
From the "Wilmington Daily Commercial," published by Jenkins and
Atkinson (men fully inspired with the spirit of impartial freedom), we
copy the following notice, which is regarded by his relatives and
intimate anti-slavery friends as a faithful portraiture of his character
and labors:
Thomas Garrett, who died full of years and honor, this morning,
at the ripe age of eighty-one, was a man of no common character.
He was an abolitionist from his youth up, and though the grand
old cause numbered amongst its supporters, poets, sages, and
statesmen, it had no more faithful worker in its ranks than
Thomas Garrett.
He has been suffering for several years, from a disease of the
bladder, which frequently caused him most acute anguish, and
several times threatened his life. The severe pain attending the