The Underground Railroad
During the few moments in which the above remarks were made, the
slaveholder frequently interrupted--said she understood all
about the laws making her free, and her right to leave if she
wanted to; but contended that she did not want to leave--that
she was on a visit to New York to see her friends--afterward
_wished to return to her three children whom she left in
Virginia, from whom it would be_ HARD _to separate her_.
Furthermore, he diligently tried to constrain her to say that
she did not want to be interfered with--that she wanted to go
with him--that she was on a visit to New York--had children in
the South, etc.; but the woman's desire to be free was
altogether too strong to allow her to make a single
acknowledgment favorable to his wishes in the matter. On the
contrary, she repeatedly said, distinctly and firmly, "_I am not
free, but I want my freedom_--ALWAYS _wanted to be free!! but he
holds me_."
While the slaveholder claimed that she belonged to him, he said
_that she was free_! Again he said that he was _going to give
her her freedom_, etc. When his eyes would be off of hers, such
eagerness as her looks expressed, indicative of her entreaty
that we would not forsake her and her little ones in their
weakness, it had never been my lot to witness before, under any
circumstances.
The last bell tolled! The last moment for further delay passed!
The arm of the woman being slightly touched, accompanied with
the word, "Come!" she instantly arose. "Go along--go along!"
said some, who sympathized, to the boys, at the same time taking
hold of their arms. By this time the parties were fairly moving
toward the stairway leading to the deck below. Instantly on
their starting, the slave-holder rushed at the woman and her
children, to prevent their leaving; and, if I am not mistaken,
he simultaneously took hold of the woman and Mr. Williamson,
which resistance on his part caused Mr. W. to take hold of him
and set him aside quickly.
The passengers were looking on all around, but none interfered
in behalf of the slaveholder except one man, whom I took to be
another slaveholder. He said harshly, "Let them alone; they are
his _property_!'" The youngest boy, about 7 years of age--too
young to know what these things meant--cried "Massa John! Massa
John!" The elder boy, 11 years of age, took the matter more
dispassionately, and the mother _quite calmly_. The mother and
her sympathizers all moved down the stairs together in the
presence of quite a number of spectators on the first deck and
on the wharf, all of whom, as far as I was able to discern,
seemed to look upon the whole affair with the greatest
indifference. The woman and children were assisted, but not
forced to leave. Nor were there any violence or threatenings as
I saw or heard. The only words that I heard from any one of an
objectionable character, were: "Knock him down; knock him down!"
but who uttered it or who was meant I knew not, nor have I since
been informed. However, if it was uttered by a colored man, I
regret it, as there was not the slightest cause for such
language, especially as the sympathies of the spectators and
citizens seemed to justify the course pursued.
While passing off of the wharf and down Delaware-avenue to Dock
st., and up Dock to Front, where a carriage was procured, the
slaveholder and one police officer were of the party, if no
more.
The youngest boy on being put in the carriage was told that he
was "a fool for crying so after 'Massa John,' who would sell him
if he ever caught him." Not another whine was heard on the
subject.
The carriage drove down town slowly, the horses being fatigued
and the weather intensely hot; the inmates were put out on Tenth
street--not at any house--after which they soon found hospitable
friends and quietude. The excitement of the moment having passed
by, the mother _seemed very cheerful, and rejoiced greatly that
herself and boys had been, as she thought, so "providentially
delivered from the house of bondage_!" For the first time in her
life she could look upon herself and children and feel free!
Having felt the iron in her heart for the best half of her
days--having been sold with her children on the auction
block--having had one of her children sold far away from her
without hope of her seeing him again--she very naturally and
wisely concluded to go to Canada, fearing if she remained in
this city--as some assured her she could do with entire
safety--that she might again find herself in the clutches of the
tyrant from whom she had fled.
A few items of what she related concerning the character of her
master may be interesting to the reader--
Within the last two years he had sold all his slaves--between
thirty and forty in number--having purchased the present ones in
that space of time. She said that before leaving Washington,
coming on the cars, and at his father-in-law's in this city, a
number of persons had told him that in bringing his slaves into
Pennsylvania they would be free. When told at his
father-in-law's, as she overheard it, that he "could not have
done a worse thing," &c., he replied that "Jane would not leave
him."
As much, however, as he affected to have such implicit
confidence in Jane, he scarcely allowed her to be out of his
presence a moment while in this city. To use Jane's own
language, he was "on her heels every minute," fearing that some
one might get to her ears the sweet music of freedom. By the
way, Jane had it deep in her heart before leaving the South, and
was bent on succeeding in New York, if disappointed in
Philadelphia.
At Bloodgood's, after having been belated and left by the 2
o'clock train, while waiting for the 5 o'clock line, his
appetite tempted her "master" to take a hasty dinner. So after
placing Jane where he thought she would be pretty secure from
"evil communications" from the colored waiters, and after giving
her a double counselling, he made his way to the table; remained
but a little while, however, before leaving to look after Jane;
finding her composed, looking over a bannister near where he
left her, he returned to the table again and finished his meal.
But, alas, for the slave-holder! Jane had her "top eye open,"
and in that brief space had appealed to the sympathies of a
person whom she ventured to trust, saying, "I and my children
are slaves, and we want liberty!" I am not certain, but suppose
that person, in the goodness of his heart, was the cause of the
note being sent to the Anti-Slavery office, and hence the
result.
As to her going on to New York to see her friends, and wishing
to return to her three children in the South, and his going to
free her, &c., Jane declared repeatedly and very positively,
that there was not a particle of truth in what her master said
on these points. The truth is she had not the slightest hope of
freedom through any act of his. She had only left one boy in the
South, who had been sold far away, where she scarcely ever heard
from him, indeed never expected to see him any more.
In appearance Jane is tall and well formed, high and large
forehead, of genteel manners, chestnut color, and seems to
possess, naturally, uncommon good sense, though of course she
has never been allowed to read.
Thus I have given as truthful a report as I am capable of doing,
of Jane and the circumstances connected with her deliverance.
W. STILL.
P.S.--Of the five colored porters who promptly appeared, with
warm hearts throbbing in sympathy with the mother and her
children, too much cannot be said in commendation. In the
present case they acted nobly, whatever may be said of their
general character, of which I know nothing. How human beings,
who have ever tasted oppression, could have acted differently
under the circumstances I cannot conceive.
The mystery alluded to, which the above letter did not contain, and
which the court failed to make Mr. Williamson reveal, might have been
truthfully explained in these words. The carriage was procured at the
wharf, while Col. Wheeler and Mr. Williamson were debating the question
relative to the action of the Committee, and at that instant, Jane and
her two boys were invited into it and accompanied by the writer, who
procured it, were driven down town, and on Tenth Street, below Lombard,
the inmates were invited out of it, and the said conductor paid the
driver and discharged him. For prudential reasons he took them to a
temporary resting-place, where they could tarry until after dark; then
they were invited to his own residence, where they were made welcome,
and in due time forwarded East. Now, what disposition was made of them
after they had left the wharf, while Williamson and Wheeler were
discussing matters--(as was clearly sworn to by Passmore, in his answer
to the writ of Habeas Corpus)--he Williamson did not know. That evening,
before seeing the member of the Committee, with whom he acted in concert
on the boat, and who had entire charge of Jane and her boys, he left for
Harrisburg, to fulfill business engagements. The next morning his father
(Thomas Williamson) brought the writ of Habeas Corpus (which had been
served at Passmore's office after he left) to the Anti-Slavery Office.
In his calm manner he handed it to the writer, at the same time
remarking that "Passmore had gone to Harrisburg," and added, "thee had
better attend to it" (the writ). Edward Hopper, Esq., was applied to
with the writ, and in the absence of Mr. Williamson, appeared before the
court, and stated "that the writ had not been served, as Mr. W. was out
of town," etc.
After this statement, the Judge postponed further action until the next
day. In the meanwhile, Mr. Williamson returned and found the writ
awaiting him, and an agitated state of feeling throughout the city
besides. Now it is very certain, that he did not seek to know from those
in the secret, where Jane Johnson and her boys were taken after they
left the wharf, or as to what disposition had been made of them, in any
way; except to ask simply, "are they safe?" (and when told "yes," he
smiled) consequently, he might have been examined for a week, by the
most skillful lawyer, at the Philadelphia bar, but he could not have
answered other than he did in making his return to the writ, before
Judge Kane, namely: "_That the persons named in the writ, nor either of
them, are now nor was at the time of issuing of the writ, or the
original writ, or at any other time in the custody, power, or possession
of the respondent, nor by him confined or restrained; wherefore he
cannot have the bodies," etc._.
Thus, while Mr. W. was subjected to the severest trial of his devotion
to Freedom, his noble bearing throughout, won for him the admiration and
sympathy of the friends of humanity and liberty throughout the entire
land, and in proof of his fidelity, he most cheerfully submitted to
imprisonment rather than desert his principles. But the truth was not
wanted in this instance by the enemies of Freedom; obedience to Slavery
was demanded to satisfy the South. The opportunity seemed favorable for
teaching abolitionists and negroes, that they had no right to interfere
with a "chivalrous southern gentleman," while passing through
Philadelphia with his slaves. Thus, to make an effective blow, all the