The Underground Railroad
enough be accounted for, and the individuals who listened attentively to
the story were prepared to fully appreciate his character, for, prior to
offering his services in this mission, he had been a stranger to them.
The following extract, taken from a letter of a subsequent date, in
addition to the above letter, throws still further light upon the
heart-rending affair, and shows Mr. Johnston's deep sympathy with the
sufferers and the oppressed generally--
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. N.R. JOHNSTON.
My heart bleeds when I think of those poor, hunted and
heart-broken fugitives, though a most interesting family, taken
back to bondage ten-fold worse than Egyptian. And then poor
Concklin! How my heart expanded in love to him, as he told me
his adventures, his trials, his toils, his fears and his hopes!
After hearing all, and then seeing and communing with the
family, now joyful in hopes of soon seeing their husband and
father in the land of freedom; now in terror lest the human
blood-hounds should be at their heels, I felt as though I could
lay down my life in the cause of the oppressed. In that hour or
two of intercourse with Peter's family, my heart warmed with
love to them. I never saw more interesting young men. They would
make Remonds or Douglasses, if they had the same opportunities.
While I was with them, I was elated with joy at their escape,
and yet, when I heard their tale of woe, especially that of the
mother, I could not suppress tears of deepest emotion.
My joy was short-lived. Soon I heard of their capture. The
telegraph had been the means of their being claimed. I could
have torn down all the telegraph wires in the land. It was a
strange dispensation of Providence.
On Saturday the sad news of their capture came to my ears. We
had resolved to go to their aid on Monday, as the trial was set
for Thursday. On Sabbath, I spoke from Psalm xii. 5. "For the
oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I
arise," saith the Lord: "I will set him in safety from him that
puffeth at (from them that would enslave) him." When on Monday
morning I learned that the fugitives had passed through the
place on Sabbath, and Concklin in chains, probably at the very
time I was speaking on the subject referred to, my heart sank
within me. And even yet, I cannot but exclaim, when I think of
it--O, Father! how long ere Thou wilt arise to avenge the wrongs
of the poor slave! Indeed, my dear brother, His ways are very
mysterious. We have the consolation, however, to know that all
is for the best. Our Redeemer does all things well. When He hung
upon the cross, His poor broken hearted disciples could not
understand the providence; it was a dark time to them; and yet
that was an event that was fraught with more joy to the world
than any that has occurred or could occur. Let us stand at our
post and wait God's time. Let us have on the whole armor of God,
and fight for the right, knowing, that though we may fall in
battle, the victory will be ours, sooner or later.
* * * * *
May God lead you into all truth, and sustain you in your labors,
and fulfill your prayers and hopes. Adieu.
N.R. JOHNSTON.
LETTERS FROM LEVI COFFIN.
The following letters on the subject were received from the untiring and
devoted friend of the slave, Levi Coffin, who for many years had
occupied in Cincinnati a similar position to that of Thomas Garrett in
Delaware, a sentinel and watchman commissioned of God to succor the
fleeing bondman--
CINCINNATI, 4TH MO., 10TH, 1851.
FRIEND WM. STILL:--We have sorrowful news from our friend
Concklin, through the papers and otherwise. I received a letter
a few days ago from a friend near Princeton, Ind., stating that
Concklin and the four slaves are in prison in Vincennes, and
that their trial would come on in a few days. He states that
they rowed seven days and nights in the skiff, and got safe to
Harmony, Ind., on the Wabash river, thence to Princeton, and
were conveyed to Vincennes by friends, where they were taken.
The papers state, that they were all given up to the Marshal of
Evansville, Indiana.
We have telegraphed to different points, to try to get some
information concerning them, but failed. The last information is
published in the _Times_ of yesterday, though quite incorrect in
the particulars of the case. Inclosed is the slip containing it.
I fear all is over in regard to the freedom of the slaves. If
the last account be true, we have some hope that Concklin will
escape from those bloody tyrants. I cannot describe my feelings
on hearing this sad intelligence. I feel ashamed to own my
country. Oh! what shall I say. Surely a God of justice will
avenge the wrongs of the oppressed.
Thine for the poor slave,
LEVI COFFIN.
N.B.--If thou hast any information, please write me forthwith.
CINCINNATI, 5TH MO., 11TH, 1851.
WM. STILL:--_Dear Friend_--Thy letter of 1st inst., came duly to
hand, but not being able to give any further information
concerning our friend, Concklin, I thought best to wait a little
before I wrote, still hoping to learn something more definite
concerning him.
We that became acquainted with Seth Concklin and his hazardous
enterprises (here at Cincinnati), who were very few, have felt
intense and inexpressible anxiety about them. And particularly
about poor Seth, since we heard of his falling into the hands of
the tyrants. I fear that he has fallen a victim to their inhuman
thirst for blood.
I seriously doubt the rumor, that he had made his escape. I fear
that he was sacrificed.
Language would fail to express my feelings; the intense and deep
anxiety I felt about them for weeks before I heard of their
capture in Indiana, and then it seemed too much to bear. O! my
heart almost bleeds when I think of it. The hopes of the dear
family all blasted by the wretched blood-hounds in human shape.
And poor Seth, after all his toil, and dangerous, shrewd and
wise management, and almost unheard of adventures, the many
narrow and almost miraculous escapes. Then to be given up to
Indianians, to these fiendish tyrants, to be sacrificed. O!
Shame, Shame!!
My heart aches, my eyes fill with tears, I cannot write more. I
cannot dwell longer on this painful subject now. If you get any
intelligence, please inform me. Friend N.R. Johnston, who took
so much interest in them, and saw them just before they were
taken, has just returned to the city. He is a minister of the
Covenanter order. He is truly a lovely man, and his heart is
full of the milk of humanity; one of our best Anti-Slavery
spirits. I spent last evening with him. He related the whole
story to me as he had it from friend Concklin and the mother and
children, and then the story of their capture. We wept together.
He found thy letter when he got here.
He said he would write the whole history to thee in a few days,
as far as he could. He can tell it much better than I can.
Concklin left his carpet sack and clothes here with me, except a
shirt or two he took with him. What shall I do with them? For if
we do not hear from him soon, we must conclude that he is lost,
and the report of his escape all a hoax.
Truly thy friend,
LEVI COFFIN.
Stunning and discouraging as this horrible ending was to all concerned,
and serious as the matter looked in the eyes of Peter's friends with
regard to Peter's family, he could not for a moment abandon the idea of
rescuing them from the jaws of the destroyer. But most formidable
difficulties stood in the way of opening correspondence with reliable
persons in Alabama. Indeed it seemed impossible to find a merchant,
lawyer, doctor, planter or minister, who was not too completely
interlinked with slavery to be relied upon to manage a negotiation of
this nature. Whilst waiting and hoping for something favorable to turn
up, the subjoined letter from the owner of Peter's family was received
and is here inserted precisely as it was written, spelled and
punctuated--
McKIERNON'S LETTER.
SOUTH FLORENCE ALA 6 Augest 1851
Mr WILLIAM STILL _No 31 North Fifth street Philadelphia_
Sir a few days sinc mr Lewis Tharenton of Tuscumbia Ala shewed
me a letter dated 6 June 51 from Cincinnati signd samuel Lewis
in behalf of a Negro man by the name of peter Gist who informed
the writer of the Letter that you ware his brother and wished an
answer to be directed to you as he peter would be in
philadelphi. the object of the letter was to purchis from me 4
Negros that is peters wife & 3 children 2 sons & 1 Girl the Name
of said Negres are the woman Viney the (mother) Eldest son peter
21 or 2 years old second son Leven 19 or 20 years 1 Girl about
13 or 14 years old. the Husband & Father of these people once
Belonged to a relation of mine by the name of Gist now Decest &
some few years since he peter was sold to a man by the Name of
Freedman who removed to cincinnati ohio & Tuck peter with him of
course peter became free by the volentary act of the master some
time last march a white man by the name of Miller apperd in the
nabourhood & abducted the bove negroes was caut at vincanes Indi
with said negroes & was thare convicted of steling & remanded
back to Ala to Abide the penalty of the law & on his return met
his Just reward by Getting drownded at the mouth of cumberland
River on the ohio in attempting to make his escape I recovered &
Braught Back said 4 negroes or as You would say coulard people
under the Belief that peter the Husband was accessory to the
offence thareby putting me to much Expense & Truble to the amt
$1000 which if he gets them he or his Friends must refund these
4 negroes are worth in the market about 4000 for thea are
Extraordinary fine & likely & but for the fact of Elopement I
would not take 8000 Dollars for them but as the thing now stands
you can say to peter & his new discovered Relations in
Philadelphia I will take 5000 for the 4 culerd people & if this
will suite him & he can raise the money I will delever to him or
his agent at paduca at mouth of Tennessee river said negroes but
the money must be Deposeted in the Hands of some respectabl
person at paduca before I remove the property it wold not be
safe for peter to come to this countery write me a line on recpt
of this & let me Know peters views on the above
I am Yours &c B. McKIERNON
N B say to peter to write & let me Know his viewes amediately as
I am determined to act in a way if he don't take this offer he
will never have an other oppertunity
B McKIERNON
WM. STILL'S ANSWER.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16th, 1851.
To B. McKIERNON, ESQ.: _Sir_--I have received your letter from
South Florence, Ala., under date of the 6th inst. To say that it
took me by surprise, as well as afforded me pleasure, for which
I feel to be very much indebted to you, is no more than true. In
regard to your informants of myself--Mr. Thornton, of Ala., and
Mr. Samuel Lewis, of Cincinnati--to them both I am a stranger.
However, I am the brother of Peter, referred to, and with the
fact of his having a wife and three children in your service I