The Underground Railroad
benefit--the saviors and the saved. The army of the late war has had its
"Roll of Honor." You will give us two other, rolls, worthy of equal
honor--the roll of fugitives from slavery, helped on their way to
freedom, and also the roll of their self-sacrificing benefactors. I
always hesitated which to honor most, the fugitive slave or the citizen
who helped him, in defiance of unjust laws. Your book will teach us to
honor both.
* * * * *
_FROM JOHN G. WHITTIER_.
The story of the escaped fugitives--the perils, the terrors of pursuit
and re-capture--the shrewdness which baffled the human blood-hounds--the
untiring zeal and devotion of the friends of the slave in the free
States, are well described.
_The book is more interesting than any romance_. It will be of permanent
value to the historian of the country, during the anti-slavery struggle.
_I cheerfully commend it to the public favor_.
* * * * *
_FROM J. WHEATON SMITH, D.D._
I am happy to find that material for this interesting work exists. I had
feared that much which will be here recorded, would perish with the
brave and worthy men who were personally interested. These verities of
history contain the interest of romance, and our children's children
will read them with wonder and admiration.
* * * * *
_FROM, HON. S.P. CHASE, LATE CHIEF JUSTICE U.S. SUPREME COURT_.
_Your book will certainly be an interesting one. No one probably has had
equal opportunities with yourself of listening to the narratives of
fugitive slaves. No one will repeat them more truthfully, and no stories
can be more fraught with interest than theirs_. Let us rejoice, that, in
our country, such narratives can never be heard again.
* * * * *
_FROM WM. LLOYD GARRISON_.
I congratulate you that, after much patient research, careful
preparation, and untiring labor, you have completed your voluminous work
on "THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD." I am sure your work will be found to be
_one of absorbing interest, worthy of the widest patronage, and
historically valuable as pertaining to the tremendous struggle for the
abolition of chattel slavery in our land. No phase of that struggle was
so crowded wifh thrilling incidents, heroic adventures, and
self-sacrificing efforts as the one you have undertaken to portray, and
with which you were so closely connected, to wit:_ "THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD." While it will be contemplated with shame, sadness, and
astonishment, by posterity, it will serve vividly to illustrate the
perils which everywhere confronted the fugitives from the Southern
"house of bondage," and to which those who dared to give them food and
shelter were also subjected.
* * * * *
_FROM GEN. O.O. HOWARD_.
You could not prepare a work that would afford more instruction and
interest to me than a detailed history of the operations of the
so-called "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD." _I am delighted_ at the casual
examination I have been permitted to give it. Thousands will rise up to
call you blessed for your faithful record of our "legalized crime," and
its graphic terrible consequences set forth by you in _such true
pictures and plain words_.
* * * * *
_HON. CARL SCHURZ, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR_.
I have no doubt you can make the narrative a very interesting
contribution to the history of an important period of our national
development. It will be calculated to strengthen in the whole American
people a just sense of the beneficent results of the great social
revolution we have achieved, and to inspire the people of your own race
with a high appreciation of the blessings of liberty they now enjoy.
* * * * *
_FROM HON. W.D. KELLEY, CONGRESSMAN FROM PA._
The stories you tell with admirable simplicity and directness of the
suffering heroically endured by such numbers of poor fugitives, will
instruct and inspire many who have regarded the American slave as a
member of an inferior race.
_Office_ "THE PRESS," _Philadelphia, Pa.__My Dear Sir:_--I have read
most of the proof sheets of your forthcoming book, entitled "THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD," and have just examined the letter-press
preparatory to its publication, and the accompanying engravings, and I
cannot refrain from stating, that I believe it to be a consummate work
of its kind. Its chief merit, of course, consists in its _extraordinary
revelations_ of the injustice and cruelty of the dead system of slavery,
but it is gratifying to notice that it will be printed and sent forth to
the world in so complete and admirable a style, _I commend it most
cheerfully as a book that every citizen should have in his library._
Very truly, yours,
JNO. W. FORNEY.
WM. STILL, Esq.
* * * * *
I join very cordially in the preceding statement and recommendation.
HON. MORTON McMICHAEL, _Ex-Mayor of Phila., Editor of N.A. & U.S.
Gazette._
* * * * *
I most cordially unite with Col. Forney and other gentlemen in
recommending to the public Mr. Still's work, entitled "THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD." The thrilling narratives cannot be read, even at this day,
without exciting the deepest emotion.
GEO. H. STUART.
* * * * *
I fully and heartily concur in the opinion of Col. Forney respecting Mr.
Still's work, entitled "THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD."
HON. CHAS. GIBBONS.
* * * * *
Mr. Still's work appears to me to be one of _great interest, and I most
heartily unite in recommending it to the public attention._
HON. HENRY C. CAREY.
* * * * *
_FROM, J. MILLER MCKIM._
I have read your book with feelings of mingled pleasure and pride;
pleasure at the valuable contribution which it furnishes to anti-slavery
history and anti-slavery literature, and pride that you are the author
of it.
But the chief value of the book will be found in its main narratives,
which illustrate to the life the character of slavery, the spirit and
temper of the men engaged for its overthrow, and the difficulties which
had to be overcome by these men in the accomplishment of their purpose.
A book so unique in kind, so startling in interest, and so trustworthy
in its statements, cannot fail to command a large reading now, and in
generations yet to come. That you--my long tried friend and
associate--are the author of this book, is to me a matter of great pride
and delight.
* * * * *
_FROM HON. JNO. A. BINGHAM OF OHIO._
You will please accept my thanks for the opportunity given me to examine
your record of the struggle for freedom by the slave and his friends. It
will doubtless be a work of great interest to many of our citizens.
_FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN AND U.S. GAZETTE._
Here is an authority that cannot be questioned, competent and correct by
many endorsements, that shows without argument, after the true pattern
of Herodotus and the chroniclers, what slavery in America was in the
decade immediately preceding its overthrow.
* * * * *
_FROM THE "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER."_
"Never before has the working of the Underground Railroad been so
thoroughly explained. Here we have in complete detail the various
methods adopted for circumventing the enemies of freedom, and told, as
it is, with great simplicity and natural feeling, the narrative is one
which cannot but make a deep impression. Thrilling incidents, heroic
adventures and noble deeds of self-sacrigce light up every page, and
will enlist the heartiest sympathies of all generous souls. It was
eminently just that such a record of one of the most remarkable phases
of the struggle against slavery should be prepared, that the memory of
the noble originators and supporters of the railroad might be kept
green, and posterity enabled to form a true conception of the necessity
that called it into existence, and of the difficulties under which its
work was performed. The labor of compiling could not have fallen into
more appropriate or better qualified hands."
* * * * *
_FROM THE "BALTIMORE AMERICAN."_
Mr. Still was one of the most courageous managers on the Underground
Ralroad, and is therefore well qualified to be its historian. He speaks
of his own services with modesty, and, in fact, there is no attempt at
exaggeration in any one of the most wonderful series of narratives which
he relates. Baltimore was one of the great depots from which the
trembling fugitives set out on their trip to Canada, and Mr. Still deals
freely with the names of person, yet living, who, no doubt, would be
very glad if this most extraordinary book had never been published. It
was their misfortune to have furnished a number of passengers for the
"Underground Railroad," and now they cannot escape being named in
connection with the slaves, who dared, everything for liberty.
* * * * *
_FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BULLETIN._
We have often longed to know how the drab-coated philanthropists of
Philadelphia managed to furnish systematic assistance to the slave
fugitives, and the desire is now gratified. William Still, for many
years connected with the anti-slavery office in Philadelphia, and the
chairman of the Acting Vigilance Committee of the Philadelphia Branch of
the Underground Railroad, has written a ponderous volume, entitled "THE
UNDERGROUND RALROAD." ... He has performed his work well. The volume
before us, though containing nearly 800 pages, is not elaborated beyond
necessity, and fairly teems with interesting sketches.
_FROM BISHOP PAYNE OF THE A.M.E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA._
My official engagements and private duties have prevented me from
reading your work on THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, throughout. But such
portions as I have had time to read, convince me that as a stimulus to
noble effort it has much value. It is also a grand _monument_ of the
past struggles of the Angel Spirit of Liberty with the Demon of American
Slavery. It serves also as a Beacon Light for our future progress in the
upward movement. It deserves a wide circulation through the Republic.
* * * * *
"I cheerfully endorse the above."
S.M.D. WARD. (Bishop A.M.E. Church.)
* * * * *
_FROM LETTER OF HON. EBENEZER D. BASSETT, U.S. MINISTER TO HAITI._
The book must strike everyone who sees it as one of very commendable
appearance; and to everyone who reads it, it must commend itself as one
of remarkable interest. It is a work which cannot fail to reflect an
unusual credit upon the care, industry and sterling ability of its
author.
All hail to you, my dear fellow, for your success. When nearly four
years ago you spoke often to me about your project of writing this book,
I always told you I thought it would prove a success; but I tell you
now, candidly, that although I never for a moment doubted your peculiar
fitness to prepare such a work, yet I feared that when you came to see
the time, industry, care and patience, which it would require aside from
your pressing everyday business cares and perplexities, you might stop
at the foot of the mountain and abandon the tedious ascent. But you have
actually made the ascent and stand now on the top of the mountain.
Hurrah for my old friend Still! Hurrah! Hurrah!! Hurrah!!!
* * * * *
_FROM. PROF. W. HOWARD DAY, IN "OUR NATIONAL PROGRESS."_
In his singularly and creditably brief preface, Mr. Still sincerely