The Underground Railroad
opportunity to carry out his resolution. In due time a good Providence
opened the way, and to "Sam's" satisfaction he reached Philadelphia,
having encountered no peculiar difficulties. The Committee, perceiving
that he was smart, active, and promising, encouraged his undertaking,
and having given him friendly advice, aided him in the usual manner.
Letters of introduction were given him, and he was duly forwarded on his
way. He had left his father, mother, and one sister behind. Samuel and
Catharine were the names of his parents. Thus far, his escape would seem
not to affect his parents, nor was it apparent that there was any other
cause why the owner should revenge himself upon them.
The father was an old local preacher in the Methodist Church--much
esteemed as an inoffensive, industrious man; earning his bread by the
sweat of his brow, and contriving to move along in the narrow road
allotted colored people bond or free, without exciting a spirit of ill
will in the pro-slavery power of his community. But the rancor awakened
in the breast of slave-holders in consequence of the high-handed step
the son had taken, brought the father under suspicion and hate. Under
the circumstances, the eye of Slavery could do nothing more than watch
for an occasion to pounce upon him. It was not long before the desired
opportunity presented itself. Moved by parental affection, the old man
concluded to pay a visit to his boy, to see how he was faring in a
distant land, and among strangers. This resolution he quietly carried
into effect. He found his son in Canada, doing well; industrious; a man
of sobriety, and following his father's footsteps religiously. That the
old man's heart was delighted with what his eyes saw and his ears heard
in Canada, none can doubt. But in the simplicity of his imagination, he
never dreamed that this visit was to be made the means of his
destruction. During the best portion of his days he had faithfully worn
the badge of Slavery, had afterwards purchased his freedom, and thus
become a free man. He innocently conceived the idea that he was doing no
harm in availing himself not only of his God-given rights, but of the
rights that he had also purchased by the hard toil of his own hands. But
the enemy was lurking in ambush for him--thirsting for his blood. To his
utter consternation, not long after his return from his visit to his son
"a party of gentlemen from the New Market district, went at night to
Green's house and made search, whereupon was found a copy of Uncle Tom's
Cabin, etc." This was enough--the hour had come, wherein to wreak
vengeance upon poor Green. The course pursued and the result, may be
seen in the following statement taken from the Cambridge (Md.),
"Democrat," of April 29th, 1857, and communicated by the writer to the
"Provincial Freeman."
SAM GREEN.
The case of the State against Sam Green (free negro) indicted
for having in his possession, papers, pamphlets and pictorial
representations, having a tendency to create discontent, etc.,
among the people of color in the State, was tried before the
court on Friday last.
This case was of the utmost importance, and has created in the
public mind a great deal of interest--it being the first case of
the kind ever having occurred in our country.
It appeared, in evidence, that this Green has a son in Canada,
to whom Green made a visit last summer. Since his return to this
county, suspicion has fastened upon him, as giving aid and
assisting slaves who have since absconded and reached Canada,
and several weeks ago, a party of gentlemen from New Market
district, went at night, to Green's house and made search,
whereupon was found a volume of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a map of
Canada, several schedules of routes to the North, and a letter
from his son in Canada, detailing the pleasant trip he had, the
number of friends he met with on the way, with plenty to eat,
drink, etc., and concludes with a request to his father, that he
shall tell certain other slaves, naming them, to come on, which
slaves, it is well known, did leave shortly afterwards, and have
reached Canada. The case was argued with great ability, the
counsel on both sides displaying a great deal of ingenuity,
learning and eloquence. The first indictment was for the having
in possession the letter, map and route schedules.
Notwithstanding the mass of evidence given, to show the
prisoner's guilt, in unlawfully having in his possession these
documents, and the nine-tenths of the community in which he
lived, believed that he had a hand in the running away of
slaves, it was the opinion of the court, that the law under
which he was indicted, was not applicable to the case, and that
he must, accordingly, render a verdict of not guilty.
He was immediately arraigned upon another indictment, for having
in possession "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and tried; in this case the
court has not yet rendered a verdict, but holds it under _curia_
till after the Somerset county court. It is to be hoped, the
court will find the evidence in this case sufficient to bring it
within the scope of the law under which the prisoner is indicted
(that of 1842, chap. 272), and that the prisoner may meet his
due reward--be that what it may.
That there is something required to be done by our Legislators,
for the protection of slave property, is evident from the
variety of constructions put upon the statute in this case, and
we trust, that at the next meeting of the Legislature there will
be such amendments, as to make the law on this subject,
perfectly clear and comprehensible to the understanding of every
one.
In the language of the assistant counsel for the State, "Slavery
must be protected or it must be abolished."
From the same sheet, of May 20th, the terrible doom of Samuel Green, is
announced in the following words:
In the case of the State against Sam Green, (free negro) who was
tried at the April term of the Circuit Court of this county, for
having in his possession abolition pamphlets, among which was
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," has been found guilty by the court, and
sentenced to the penitentiary for the term of ten years--until
the 14th of May, 1867.
The son, a refugee in Canada, hearing the distressing news of his
father's sad fate in the hands of the relentless "gentlemen," often
wrote to know if there was any prospect of his deliverance. The
subjoined letter is a fair sample of his correspondence:
SALFORD, 22,1857.
Dear Sir I take my pen in hand to Request a faver of you if you
can by any means without duin InJestus to your self or your
Bisness to grant it as I Bleve you to be a man that would
Sympathize in such a ones Condition as my self I Reseved a
letter that Stats to me that my Fater has ben Betraed in the act
of helping sum frend to Canada and the law has Convicted and
Sentanced him to the Stats prison for 10 yeares his White Frands
ofered 2 thousen Dollers to Redem him but they would not short
three thousen. I am in Canada and it is a Dificult thing to get
a letter to any of my Frands in Maryland so as to get prop per
infermation abot it--if you can by any means get any in
telligence from Baltimore City a bot this Event Plese do so and
Rit word and all so all the inform mation that you think prop
per as Regards the Evant and the best mathod to Redeme him and
so Plese Rite soon as you can You will oblige your sir Frand and
Drect your letter to Salford P. office C.W.
SAMUEL GREEN.
In this dark hour the friends of the Slave could do but little more than
sympathize with this heart-stricken son and grey-headed father. The aged
follower of the Rejected and Crucified had like Him to bear the
"reproach of many," and make his bed with the wicked in the
Penitentiary. Doubtless there were a few friends in his neighborhood who
sympathized with him, but they were powerless to aid the old man. But
thanks to a kind Providence, the great deliverance brought about during
the Rebellion by which so many captives were freed, also unlocked Samuel
Green's prison-doors and he was allowed to go free.
After his liberation from the Penitentiary, we had from his own lips
narrations of his years of suffering--of the bitter cup, that he was
compelled to drink, and of his being sustained by the Almighty Arm--but
no notes were taken at the time, consequently we have nothing more to
add concerning him, save quite a faithful likeness.
* * * * *
AN IRISH GIRL'S DEVOTION TO FREEDOM.
IN LOVE WITH A SLAVE--GETS HIM OFF TO CANADA--FOLLOWS HIM--MARRIAGE, &C.
Having dwelt on the sad narratives of Samuel Green and his son in the
preceding chapter, it is quite a relief to be able to introduce a
traveler whose story contains incidents less painful to contemplate.
From the record book the following brief account is taken:
"April 27, 1855. John Hall arrived safely from Richmond, Va., per
schooner, (Captain B). One hundred dollars were paid for his passage."
In Richmond he was owned by James Dunlap, a merchant. John had been sold
several times, in consequence of which, he had possessed very good
opportunities of experiencing the effect of change of owners. Then, too,
the personal examination made before sale, and the gratification
afforded his master when he (John), brought a good price--left no very
pleasing impressions on his mind.
By one of his owners, named Burke, John alleged that he had been
"cruelly used." When quite young, both he and his sister, together with
their mother, were sold by Burke. From that time he had seen neither
mother nor sister--they were sold separately. For three or four years
the desire to seek liberty had been fondly cherished, and nothing but
the want of a favorable opportunity had deterred him from carrying out
his designs. He considered himself much "imposed upon" by his master,
particularly as he was allowed "no choice about living" as he "desired."
This was indeed ill-treatment as John viewed the matter. John may have
wanted too much. He was about thirty-five years of age, light
complexion--tall--rather handsome-looking, intelligent, and of good
manners. But notwithstanding these prepossessing features, John's owner
valued him at only $1,000. If he had been a few shades darker and only
about half as intelligent as he was, he would have been worth at least
$500 more. The idea of having had a white father, in many instances,
depreciated the pecuniary value of male slaves, if not of the other sex.
John emphatically was one of this injured class; he evidently had blood
in his veins which decidedly warred against submitting to the yoke. In
addition to the influence which such rebellious blood exerted over him,
together with a considerable amount of intelligence, he was also under
the influence and advice of a daughter of old Ireland. She was heart and
soul with John in all his plans which looked Canada-ward. This it was
that "sent him away."
It is very certain, that this Irish girl was not annoyed by the kinks in
John's hair. Nor was she overly fastidious about the small percentage of
colored blood visible in John's complexion. It was, however, a strange
occurrence and very hard to understand. Not a stone was left unturned
until John was safely on the Underground Rail Road. Doubtless she helped
to earn the money which was paid for his passage. And when he was safe
off, it is not too much to say, that John was not a whit more delighted
than was his intended Irish lassie, Mary Weaver. John had no sooner