The Underground Railroad
"'Friend,' was the reply, 'I haven't a dollar in the world, but
if thee knows a fugitive who needs a breakfast, send him to me.'
"Over such a scene, Luther and Howard and Clarkson clapped their
hands.
"Such a speech redeems the long infamy of the State. It is
endurable, the having of such a blot as Delaware in our history,
when it has once been the home of such a man. I remember well
the just pride with which he told me, that after that sale,
pro-slavery as Wilmington was, he could have a discount at the
bank as readily as any man in the city. Though the laws robbed
him, his fellow-citizens could not but respect and trust him,
love and honor him.
"The city has never had, we believe, a man die in it worthy of a
statue. We advise it to seize this opportunity to honor itself
and perpetuate the good name of its worthiest citizen, by
immortalizing some street, spot, shaft or building with his
name.
"Brave, generous, high-souled, sturdy, outspoken friend of all
that needed aid or sympathy, farewell for these scenes! In times
to come, when friendless men and hated ideas need champions, God
grant them as gallant and successful ones as you have been, and
may the State you honored grow worthy of you. WENDELL PHILLIPS."
Likewise in the "National Standard," the editor, Aaron M. Powell, who
attended the funeral, paid the following glowing tribute to the moral,
religious, and anti-slavery character of the slave's friend:
On the 24th inst., Thomas Garrett, in his eighty-second year,
passed on to the higher life. A week previous we had visited him
in his sick chamber, and, on leaving him felt that he must go
hence ere long. He was the same strong, resolute man in spirit
to the last. He looked forward to the welcome change with
perfect serenity and peace of mind. And well he might, for he
had indeed fought the good fight and been faithful unto the end.
He was most widely known for his services to fugitive slaves.
Twenty-five hundred and forty-five he had preserved a record of;
and he had assisted somewhat more than two hundred prior to the
commencement of the record. Picture to the mind's eye this
remarkable procession of nearly three thousand men, women and
children fleeing from Slavery, and finding in this brave,
large-hearted man, a friend equal to their needs in so critical
an emergency! No wonder he was feared by the slave-holders, not
alone of his own State, but of the whole South. If their human
chattels once reached his outpost, there was indeed little hope
of their reclamation. The friend and helper of fugitives from
Slavery, truly their Moses, he was more than this, he was the
discriminating, outspoken, uncompromising opponent of Slavery
itself. He was one of the strongest pillars and one of the most
efficient working-members of the American Anti-slavery Society.
He was an abolitionist of the most radical and pronounced
character, though a resident of a slave State, and through all
the period wherein to be an abolitionist was to put in jeopardy,
not only reputation and property, but life itself. Though he
rarely addressed public meetings, his presence imparted much
strength to others, was "weighty" in the best Quaker sense. He
was of the rare type of character, represented by Francis
Jackson and James Mott.
Thomas Garrett was a member of the Society of Friends, and as
such, served by the striking contrast of his own life and
character, with the average of the Society, to exemplify to the
world the real, genuine Quakerism. It is not at all to the
credit of his fellow-members, that it must be said of them, that
when he was bearing the cross and doing the work for which he is
now so universally honored, they, many of them, were not only
not in sympathy with him, but would undoubtedly, if they had had
the requisite vitality and courage, have cut him off from their
denominational fellowship. He was a sincere, earnest believer in
the cardinal point of Quakerism, the Divine presence in the
human soul--this furnishes the key to his action through life.
This divine attribute he regarded not as the birth-right of
Friends alone, not of one race, sex or class, but of all
mankind. Therefore was he an abolitionist; therefore was he
interested in the cause of the Indians; therefore was he
enlisted in the cause of equal rights for women; therefore was
he a friend of temperance, of oppressed and needy working-men
and women, world-wide in the scope of his philanthropic
sympathy, and broadly catholic, and comprehensive in his views
of religious life and duty. He was the soul of honor in
business. His experience, when deprived at sixty, of every
dollar of his property for having obeyed God rather than man, in
assisting fugitives from Slavery, and the promptness with which
his friends came forward with proffered co-operation, furnishes
a lesson which all should ponder well. He had little respect
for, or patience with shams of any kind, in religious, political
or social life.
As we looked upon Thomas Garrett's calm, serene face, mature in
a ripe old age, still shadowing forth kindliness of heart,
firmness of purpose, discriminating intelligence, conscientious,
manly uprightness, death never seemed more beautiful:
"Why, what is Death but Life
In other forms of being? Life without
The coarser attributes of men, the dull
And momently decaying frame which holds
The ethereal spirit in, and binds it down
To brotherhood with brutes! There's no
Such thing as Death; what's so-called is but
The beginning of a new existence, a fresh
Segment of the eternal round of change."
A.M.P.
Another warm admirer of this Great Lover of humanity, in a letter to
George W. Stone thus alludes to his life and death:
TAUNTON, MASS., June 25th, 1871.
DEAR STONE:--Your telegram announcing the death of that old
soldier and saint, and my good friend, Thos. Garrett, reached me
last evening at ten o'clock.
My first impulse was to start for Wilmington, and be present at
his funeral; but when I considered my work here, and my
engagements for the next four days, I found it impossible to go.
I will be there in spirit, and bow my inmost soul before the All
Loving One, his Father and ours, in humble thankfulness, that I
ever knew him, and had the privilege of enjoying his friendship
and witnessing his devotion, to the interest of every good cause
of benevolence and Reform.
I could write you many things of interest which I heard from
him, and which I have noted on my memory and heart; but I cannot
now. I think he was one of the remarkable men of the times, in
faith, in holy boldness, in fearless devotion to the right, in
uncompromising integrity, in unselfish benevolence, in love to
God and man, and in unceasing, life-long efforts to do justly,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. We shall not soon
look upon his like again.
If I was present at his funeral, I should take it as a privilege
to pronounce his name, and say, as I never said before, "Blessed
are the dead that die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit; for
they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."
Do, at once, see his children and Clarkson Taylor, and give them
my condolence, no, my _congratulation_, and assure them that
they have a rich legacy in his noble life, and he has a glorious
reward in the bosom of God.
Peace to his memory! Noble old man, so pure and peaceful, and
yet so strong, firm, and fearless, so gentle, tender, and
truthful, afraid and ashamed of nothing but sin, and in love and
labor with every good work.
I could write on and fill many pages. But he desired no eulogy,
and needs none. He lives, and will live for ever in many hearts
and in the heaven of heavens above.
T. ISRAEL.
If it were necessary we might continue to introduce scores of
editorials, communications, epistles, etc., all breathing a similar
spirit of respect for the rare worth of this wonderful man, but space
forbids. In conclusion, therefore, with a view of presenting him in the
light of his own interesting letters, written when absorbed in his
peculiar work, from a large number on file the following are submitted:
WILMINGTON, 11th mo. 21st, 1855.
ESTEEMED FRIEND, WM. STILL:--Thine of this date, inquiring for
the twenty-one, and how they have been disposed of, has just
been received. I can only answer by saying, when I parted with
them yesterday forenoon, I gave the wife of the person, in whose
house they were, money to pay her expenses to Philadelphia and
back in the cars to pilot the four women to thy place. I gave
her husband money to pay a pilot to start yesterday with the ten
men, divided in two gangs; also a letter for thee. I hope they
have arrived safe ere this. I had to leave town soon after noon
yesterday to attend a brother ill with an attack of apoplexy,
and to-day I have been very much engaged. The place they stayed
here is a considerable distance off. I will make inquiry
to-morrow morning, and in case any other disposition has been
made of them than the above I will write thee. I should think
they have stopped to-day, in consequence of the rain, and most
likely will arrive safe to-morrow. In haste, thy friend,
THOS. GARRETT.
Although having "to attend a brother, ill with an attack of apoplexy,"
Garrett took time to attend to the interest of the "twenty-one," as the
above letter indicates. How many other men in the United States, under
similar circumstances, would have been thus faithful?
On another occasion deeply concerned for A FORWARDER OF SLAVES, he wrote
thus:
WILMINGTON, 12th mo. 26th, 1855.
ESTEEMED FRIEND, WM. STILL:--The bearer of this, George Wilmer,
is a slave, whose residence is in Maryland. He is a true man,
and a forwarder of slaves. Has passed some twenty-five within
four months. He is desirous of finding some of his relations,
Wm. Mann and Thomas Carmichael, they passed here about a month
since. If thee can give him any information where they can be
found thee will much oblige him, and run no risk of their safety
in so doing. I remain, as ever, thy sincere friend,
THOS. GARRETT.
"Four able-bodied men," form the subject of the subjoined
correspondence:
WILMINGTON, 11th mo., 4th, 1856.
ESTEEMED FRIENDS, J. Miller McKim and William Still:--Captain
F., has arrived here this day, with four able-bodied men. One is
an engineer, and has been engaged in sawing lumber, a second, a
good house-carpenter, a third a blacksmith, and the fourth a
farm hand. They are now five hundred miles from their home in
Carolina, and would be glad to get situations, without going far
from here. I will keep them till to-morrow. Please inform me
whether thee knows of a suitable place in the country where the
mechanics can find employment at their trades for the winter;
let me hear to-morrow, and oblige your friend,
THOMAS GARRETT.
"What has become of Harriet Tubman?" (agent of the Underground Rail
Road), is made a subject of special inquiry in the following note:
WILMINGTON, 3d mo., 27th, 1857.
ESTEEMED FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL:--I have been very anxious for