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LESS Se Bit hed ah Cte be ihe St ee apr ie co 9d ee a BOW. ea Ea Ys Risa a ; _ontyar - wasasick man in the house. © a comfortable living here. © gitive, as he lands kee, empty handed, it t :kes An Appeal of the Fugitives in Canada __to their Friends in the U. §. aoe IEREAS:---We, the colored people of the of Essex, in Canada West, have become acquainted with the fact that there has been a 8 of begging carried on in the United J.J. Rice, in connection with others, under the name of the Amherstburg Mission for the Self Colonized Fugitives in Canada, and that it has a tendency to degrade the col- ored people and swindle their friends out of their money, as we have every reason to be- Hieve, from facts that have occurred under our | notice, and it is commonly reported that things |. that have been sent here for distribution among the fugitives have been sold and the poor fugitives have got nothing but a few old cloMherenen is Riceenye ate rat worth paying the freight upon. We have found that the so-called Mission-house that was eatablished in Amherstburg is no help to the fugitives, but rather a curse, as it and those that carry it on use itto make divisions and dissentions amoug the colored people, that they might the torious fact that men who are engaged in = e begging business have become able to buy farms and live comfortably without any other means of livelihood; and we, seeing the abuse | of this system of begging, did organize our- selves into a society called the " True Band of Amherstburg," on the 13th of December last, for our mutual benefit, to assist the fugitive as he arrives here among us, to relieve the sick and distressed, for eur moral, social and intel- Jectual improvement, and to stop this accursed -_ system of begging, that only benefits the few | that are.engaged init. We number overtwo hundred members. : ee _ On the 13th of April, the so-called Mission- house that was established here, purporting 10 be for the benefit of the self- colonized fugi- | tives, was burned down; this caused many new discoveries by us, to be made; as there had heen seyeral calls on Mr. Rice, by new arri- _ Vals, for boots, shoes, and other articles, and yee 'ale that there were none, but when the re commenced the new boots began to pour ut;a number of new bots were saved, a quan- tity were consumed by the flames; also, bolts of different kinds of cloth, and quite a large quantity of corn and bacon and books, were thrown about in abundance. Here, for the first time, we saw a publication in which we found appeals to our friends in the States, for money, clothing, bedding, and other things. We are aware that for the last few years there has been but very litue given out to fugitives, _ this we have made particular inquiry in regard to, in several large mass meetings, and we find that twenty dollars will cover all the mo- nies, and a few old clothes is all that has been given out. _Another case revealed by this fire, which umost chilled the blood in our veins, was, that a man by the name of Beckwell rented a room in the house some time in the fore part of the winter, he being upwards of a year from sla- very, and being industrious, had procured raany of the comforts of life, besides having «good crop of. corn, and considerable pork, which he had at the Mission-house, (Mr. Rice had a man and his wife and two other woman to assist him in the discharge of his duties.) Tn the winter, it appears that Mr. Beckwell - became unwell, and as spring advanced, grew - worse, he being in the care of those at the Mission-house; we knew but little about him, but supposed that he was all right. It was noised about at the time of the fire that there A travelling agent connected with the house soon informed us that he had been speaking to the sick man, and that he did not want to be taken out, and he, (this travelling agent,) thought it best to leave him alone. On hearing this, we rushed in and found him crying for help, and was al- most exhausted. When we entered the room, in a low voice he murmured out these words, --' My God, are you going to let me bura up?' We had no time for delay, as the blaze was entering the room, and we had to make our exit with all haste to escape the flames, his clothes and corn were all burned, but in consequence of the Hook and Ladder Com- pany pulling down the frame, the pork was but very little damaged, 'whieh R'ce's fore- man soon claimed as their property. W. Car- ter, (one of the beggars connected with this house,) told some of the members of the "True Band Society" to take him, for they would have no more to do with him, this they readily did, but when we came to examine him, Oh horror of herrors! we have nearly all been 'slaves, but slavery never presented a more horrible picture than this before our eyes, he - was the dirtiest man that eve: we saw, and was covered with lice from head to foot, (this is tnission care by I. J. Rice and company, among the fugitives in Canada). The " True Band Society" took him in charge and cleaned him up, and cared for him while he lived, which was but two days, and gave him a respectable burial, the society unanimously attending his funeral. It was at this fire that we found W at purported to be a quarterly report, where in he says that he has received things from -eighty-seven places in the United States, since he has been here, but does not say what they "were nor at what time they were received, but that for some eleven months from October Ist, -¥853 until August 22nd, 1855, that they had veceived seven hundred and twenty five dol- Jars in cash, and had paid it out; we have called upon him to show us what they have done with this money, but they will Y @icl ns; we did make particular inquiry of the peo- 'ple in mass meeting on the 21st of April, where 'between three and four hundred were met together to ascertain how much they had re- 'ceived in money from the mission in that time, and it would not exceed ten dollars and a few articles in clothing. We could not find that any one had received any new things only as they bought them and paid for it. They say that there has been given out in this eleven "months, two hundred and twenty five dollars 'and eighty cents worth of clothing, we have "asked them where it came from and who they gave it to, but they will not answer, These things concern our friends that give as well _as those that ought to receive them; and we be- _coming acquainted with these facts did resolve in mass meeting, assembled on the 21st of April, and 1st of May, that this so-called Mis- 'sion house was anuisance here among us, and that we would use every laudable means "for its discontinuance, and that we will not countenance this begging system, as it only _-enriches those that are engaged init. We did _resolve that no man should go through the _ States soliciting aid in our behalf, as it is an _ imposition on us and our friends. We are determined that men shall not misrepresent "us and impose on our friends to fill their pock- "ets. We would say to our friends that we are grateful to you for your noble efforts in our behalf, and regret that your confidence has » been abused by selfish and designing men; « we will not suffer any person to go begging on our behalf. If such come to you, turn them away as imposters and let them go to work _ Hike honest men. As to the reports in regard ~ to Canada, there is a great deal of falsehood ~ told to carry out this begging system. 'This part of Canada is considered by those that have had opportunities to know, as western ~ New. York, Ohio, or Michigan, and all per- _sons that are able to, and will work, can get It is trur, the fu- m some time to get a start, but most of our ple are doing well. As to this Mission- ey yeus that is burned, Rice and those that have _ received.the benefit of it area going to try and build it upegain. We ask of you as friends ~~ of the fugitive, not to give it support, as it is ~~ no benefit to us; wehave tried for years to get ~ rid of him, but be bas managed through in- | _» trigue to keep the Mission-hovse;.but 6r7hzas _ »taken it and our desire is that it y Tever by Peper eee ) may 2 return to curse us ey impose on our friene earry out their nefarious schemes; it is |. sending men out to beg, and pay them $1 per day and bear their expenses; we ask of you not to countenance beggars any longer. We would say that this I. J. Rice did call a few of the white people of Amherstburg together on the 22nd of April, (after the coloured peo- ple had repudiated him and his mission,) for the purpose of having them organize another mission board to sustain him, but when they tions, and if he was in correspondence with anti-slavery societies in the United States, he said that he was not, that he was a self-con- stituted missionary, does not hold himself re- 'sponsible to any body. ' We do not wonder that the white psople, will not try and sustain him, as no community of intelligent men are willing to sustain irre- sponsible persons in places of trust, and more especially where it requires moral and religi- ous integrity; as to Thomas Boyle being Trea- aurer, and Henry. McKinney Auditor, they were appointed by Mr. Rice, and not by the board of colored people; by doing this, he has shut the colored people out from managing the affuirs of the Mission. ~ Asto the Treasurer, Thomas Boyle, to show his kind regard for the fugitives, and the es- timation in' which he holds them, he said that they were an ignorant, degraded, lying set. the whole of them, and that when white peo- the niggers instead of going to respectable white people, to inquire in regard t» them. Mr. McGee, the chairman of Rice's caucus, said that he had never known of any white person coming from the States going to the white people to inquire in regard to the fugi- tive, but always to the colored; we would ask if these are respectable white people who are not? and where isa more befitting place to inquire than of those that should receive those alms, and donations, that were given and de- signed for their benefit; is it of men that have never done anything for them, only to crush them lower in the dust than they were when they landed on the shores of Canada? we think not. Ifthey want Rice, all we askis that they will t ke him, and that will relieve us; we have been trying fora long time to get rid of him, but heis determined not to go, al- though they have seen his cloven hoof and will have nothing to do with him, he still per- sists in striving to over ride the fugitives, when every body has left him except a few beggars that reap the benefits of the system. Asa last resort, he has issued a circular to the people of the United States, to have them or- ganize societies to be called the "Uncle Tom's Cabin and Relief Society," whose officers shall be a President who may be a collecting agent, with two female assistants, and Secre- tary, that these societies shall keep them- selves informed of what he wants by corres- ponding with him. The miserable God and man forsaken, hell deserving wretch! if any body wants him we ask of you for humanity sake do take him, as we have been cursed with his presence long enough; as to his belonging to the Baptist Church in Amherst- burg, as it has been reported, we would say that it is false, he does not, nor ever has, his name is not on the Church Record, nor ever has been, neither do we know that he, (Rice,) does belong to any church in Canada. This is the man that has been receiving your mo- ney and donations of all kinds, and what has he done with them? If you can get him and those connected with him to tell, you can do more than has ever been done before, or that we believe ever will be done. Resolved, That this report of the eommit- tee be received by us, the fugitives of the county of Essex, Canada West, in mass meet- ing assembled, at Amherstburg, on the 28th of May, 1855, as being a correct statement of facts in regard to Rice, and his doings here, soon as practicable, in circulars, or through 'newspapers that are friendly, or in both, as they may deem best, in the name of the fugi- tives. wt Publishing Committee: Levi Foster, Jonn Hatrinup, J. Morton, E. O. Brown, A. W. CHanpben. AMBERSTBURG, May 28, 1855, Southern Insolence and Northern Pluck, Atan early period in the proceedings of the recent National Know Nothing Conven- tion at Philadelphia-- ' The question of admitting the Louisiana Delegation, who are part Catholics, was up. But the boiling blood of Virginia, which has been seeking vent all the week against Mas- sachusetts and Senator Wilson, could hold in no longer, and Mr. Bowlin of that State opened upon them in a long and abusive tirade. 'The whole afternoon session was thus devoted toa free talk on Slavery, Presi- dent Barker refusing to entertain a point of order, but throwing the gates wide open. The tide poured in a torent for near three hours. The union went all to smash several times. But Albert Pike and others gather- ed up the fragments for use to-morrow, when the ball is to be reopened. Mr. Bowlin's speech very much annoyed the better part of the Southerners by its inappropriateness, coarseness and vulgarity. He came close to Gen. Wilson while making it, pointing at him, and putting his hand nto his face. He charg- ed Wilson with defeating the Know Noth- ings in Virginia-- said niggers were but one remove from monkeys, and acquitted himself generally in the fittest style of negro-driving. Gen. Wilson replied with admirable cool- ness and bold frankness. He said he was the last man to shrink, at home or abroad, from the frank avowal of his opinions, and he was the last man on earth to submit to dictation and threats. The gentleman from Virginia charged him with endorsing Bur- lingame's speech in Tremont Temple, and thrusting him down in Virginia. He did en- dorse that speech. He now endorsed it,. and he should live and die by it, and Massa- chusetts will stand by that speech. An effort had been made in Virginia to strike him down in Massachusetts, but he was not to be strick- en down there by the Slave Power. He con- ceded the right of the States to settle their own domestic affairs. He stood by the State rights doctrine of Virginia of 1799. Massachusetts had just asserted her own sovereign powers. She flung back with de- fiant arm all assaults, coming from South or North. He was for the abolition of slavery in the District and in the Territories; for the restoration of freedom in Kansas and Nebraska: for severing the National Gov- ernment from all connection with slavery. This was the only national position, and on this we can carry the Free States like a tor- pado ; but if the Northern men wavered, all was lost at the North, and the South goes for the winning party, He went for. the Union. So did his State. They responded to the sentiment of General Jackson--the Union must and shall be preserved. And they mean that Liberty shall be preserved at any cost. He was for peace, but he did not shrink from war, personal or political, if ne- cessary to vindicate his opinions. He told the South that the North would outvote them on these questions, and that they would sgn. We have submitted, and your turn F nowto come. "Ours is the future--yours. Mhapeget Pedi a come to question him in regardto his opera- |... 'relate. to be. impossible. ple came from the States, they always go to} and that the committee get this published as | PROVINCIAL FREEMAN AND WEEKLY disgraceful, and the more promptly they are The speech of Gen. Wilson was received with much attention, and» made a deep im- pression. It has cleared the air,and Massa- chusetts and Gen. Wilson are more respect- ed to-night than any time before this week. Many Southern gentlemen came to him after he closed and congratulated him. -- Sa Slavery in Baltimore. We are often told of the comparatively mild form in which Slavery existsin the case| of domestic servants. . We lately published a statement from Kentucky, showing in what diabolical manner this class of slayes--and those females--are treated by persons of the greatest wealth and enjoying the highest social distinction. That story has elicited another of a simi- lar character in its general features, ex hibit- ing a case of barbarity of treatment at Bal- timore, where, if anywhere, one would sup- pose such occurrences as we are about to But our infor- mation leads to the belief that instead of being so, they are be no means unusual among the slaveholding aristocracy. _ A few weeks ago a slave, belonging to a lady long residing at Baltimore, and moving in the first circles, died in the Hospital in that city. He was her coachman. During the severest weather he used to be kept sitting on his carriage-box opposite the lady's - window half-clad, and, as was well under .tood to be the case with this woman's servants,, half-starved. In this condition the man suf- fered and eventually froze. 'The servant becoming thus disabled, and wholly unfit for' service, a physician was sent for, who after examining him, declared that the man was frost-bitten from head to foot, and must die. He was sent to the Infirmary, where both feet were amputated, and he shortly died. A few years ago this same man's wife, who also belonged to his mistress, was so badly treated that she ran away and prevailed upon Slatter, the great slave dealer, to buy her out of her mistress's clutches. He did so; and she was ever after prohibited all intercourse with her husband, who was kept from his wife to We treated in the manner we have described. 'This woman, on hearing a short time ago that her husband was at the Infir- mary, went to inquire after him. She was informed that he was dead. She fell upon the floor in a fit, and died in six hours. Another female servant belonging to this woman also ran away. Her son a young man, was sent in search of the fugitive. She was found at the town of Cockeysville. He seized her, tied her to his buggy with a rope, and in that way drove her into Balti- more (16 miles), at a rapid rate, with the woman running by the side of. the vehicle. It has been stated by some who witnessed the scene, that it was hard to.tell which was horsewipped most on the road, the horse or the woman. Another female, belonging to the same woman, fell from the third story of her mis- tress's house to the ground, while engaged in washing the windows, and was taken up a cripple for life. It turned out that her mis- tress by way of punishment, had deprived the servant of sleep by compelling her to pass the night standing by her side, and thus she fell asleep over her work, which circumstance caused the fall. These are facts of recent occurrence, and are well known in Baltimore. Reader, such is our Slavery in its best as- pects 5 as it exists in the heart of our cities. Such is the system as administered by the rich, the fashionable and the aristocratic. Does it not strike you as a system ordained by God, which ought to be allowed to go straight into Kansas and all the rest of our Territories and be in no. way opposed or dis- turbed, according to the doctrine of the National Know Nothings? And reader, is it not a fit system for the widely circulating newspaper, and the godly commercial jour- nal, of this free City of New-York to defend, uphold and aim to extend? Ay, more than this, A system which is insolently advocated among us as being better for the laboring classes, better for our free Territories, than one of universal liberty. Men and women of the free States, working men everywhere, what have you to say to these things? The hour is upon you when you are to act.-- Tribune. A colored man whocame up on a boat from Paducah, was brought before Mayor Foley of Covington to ascertain if he was free or not. He claimed to be from New York, that he had got out of money down South and was working his way home. He was sent home to Paducah to obtain proofs of his freedom. ern AP GIR ence 'We have a fact from Boston, which is a sort of astraw to show the course of the wind. It is stated that a religious book publishing house which has not pruned its works of anti-slavery sentiments, is selling far more largely during the anniversaries of the present year than ever before. We understand says the Telegraph, that this result is owing to the fact that the churches have withdrawn their patronage from a kindred society, which prohibits anti-slavery allusions in its works. We understand that, in our country, an association voted not to buy any more books at the publishing society. We suppose that the proscribed society is the doughface tract establishment. --Syracuse Chronicle. ASQ ee -------- The Methodists of Cincinnati are agitating the subject of a College for Colored People, under the auspices of that denomination. The Advocate recommends its location to be as far south as the southern verge of Penn- sylyania or Ohio, for the purpose of plac- ing the colured man as far as possible in the climate to which his constitution is adapted --not because kidnapping would be easier. The subject will come up in the General Conference. The establishment of seperate literary institutions for colored persons is wholly unnecessary. If the measure were feasible, its tendency would be to sanction rather than remove the prevailing prejudice against the colored people. We are sorry that some of the colored people themselves are disposed to countenance such schemes. A Suave Born or a Wuite Woman FREED BY A VIRGINIAN Court.--The Rich- mond Enguirer of the 12th inst., gives the following account of a very interesting case which has been decided in the Botetourt Circuit Court: -- Eliza Crawford and five children, colored, suing for their freedom. The case was de- cided in favor of the plaintiffs ; the evidence being full and complete that, the chief plain- tiff, Eliza, was born of a White woman. of Georgia. She is now about thirty-five years -of age, and has been in slavery between. fif- African and Indian. She is now the mother of six children, all of whom were plaintiffs, except the eldest, who never belonged to de- fendant, and who, it is said, will now be set at liberty without resistance. There was no evidence, howeyer, to show that the defen- dant was in any way privy to, or account- able for the injustice done the plaintiffs. To Correspondents. -- Letter from Mr. David Marshall, " miffed " Jie over. oe "Rey. A. R. Green."--The papers are sent re- gularly to Cincinnati; but four names, in- cluding Mr. Posey's, have been returned by the Post Master, as " not called for :" in proof of which, we have his letters to that effect. _ PROVINCIAL FREEMAN. OOOO omrrrOomemrmomomemymm--m--hHONNE Pe SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1855. LLL lw, fe Mr. Isaac D, Swapp ts authorized to receive for the same; he will also act as Canvasser for Toronto and vicinty. fe" Dr. Jesse Burne is authorized to receive Subscriptions for this paper, and to give Recespts for the same. ics" Mr. Moses Viney ts authorized to act as Agent for this paper in the State of New York. ite" Rev. R. M. Jonnson, is authorized to re- ceive subscriptions for this paper. (<> As it has been decided upon to pub- lish this paper at Chatham, this number will be the last one issued from this City. Our readers will therefore bear with the delay of at least a fortnight, which will be unayoid- able, under the circumstances, before the next number can appear; meantime, cannot additions be made to our subscription list here and elsewhere, preparatory to a suc- cessful future West? As papers will pass by mail, free of postage, after the Ist of July, city subscribers will receive their numbers through the Post Office. The Jobbing De- partment will be opened for business in Chat- ham, at once. Communications for the F'ree- man, and Exchanges, should be sent to Chatham, instead of Toronto, in future. ADIEU. With this number of the paper we con- sign to other hands the literary department of the same, and in the course of a few weeks, partment also, and content ourself with ac- tive efforts to get subscribers for it. In taking leave of our readers, at this time, we do so for the best interests of the enterprise, and with the hope that our absence will be their gain. We want the Preeman to pros- per, and shall Jabour to that end. When it was not, but was said to be needed, we travelled to arouse a sentiment in favor of it, and from then until now, have worked for it, how well others must say, but, through difficulties, and opposed to obstacles such as we feel confident few, if any, females have had to contend against in the same business, except the sister who shared our labors for awhile; and now after such a familiar ac- quaintanceship with difficulties, of many shapes, in trying with a few others to keep it alive for one year, as at first promised, we present it in its second year, afresh to the patronage of friends to truth and justice, and its Editor, the Rev. Wu. P. Newmaw, to their kind consideration. 'To its enemies, we would say, be less captious to him than to us; be more considerate, if you will; it is fit that you should deport your ugliest toa woman. 'To-colored women, we have a word --we have "broken the Editorial ice," whether willingly or not, for your class in America; so go to Editing, as many of you as are willing, and able, and as soon as you may, if you think you are ready ; and tothose who will not, we say, help us when we visit you, to make brother Newman's burdens lighter, by subscribing to the paper, paying for it, and getting your neighbors, to do the same. The Amherstburg Appeal. We give this week, and right willingly, too, a Circular against begging, from the True Band of Amherstburg, and also the accom- panying letter from Mr. Foster. We are not opposed to " True Band Societies ;" but to the begging that was to be perpetuated by them, through Mr. Fairfield's advice at Chatham and London. Now, if the Chat- ham Society has broken away from the scheme, in allits phases, as will be inferred from the letter of its chief officer, we say, success to it, and as many more as may be needed there! When it agreed to appoint its own agents, as suggested, and the London Society carried away by the prospect of four millions ofgollars "waiting to be sent for," and other things as promised by the same man, were clamorous for the ' flesh pots;' then, we ob- jected, so it was not benevolent Bands against begging; the only way, we believe, it can be stopped, except to discountenance any and every one who will even hint about it, let his pretensions be as great as they may. It has been to prevent a second edi- tion of the Rice doings, which, by-the-way, we knew about long since, that we felt. called to oppose Fairfield's schemes. The schemes by Isaac J. Rice, and the host of notables | teen and twenty years: Her appearance in- who beg, or have begged for fugitives, are dicates that her father was fa mixture of ~ ebout those anti-Know-nothing remarks, must: Subscriptions forthis paper, and to give Receipts | : : : ; , "The men interested in stopping begging, are® shall pass over the keys of the business de- | ge oe ADVERTISER. = ee stopped the better ; and we ever hope to give the little assistance we can command to bring it about. You see we have an adopted country, whose interests we have at heart, and a people who need not beg if they should be destitute when they get here, and | , who eannot afford to be known to the world. as begears, and another and generous people to whom we are equally related, that must be relieved 'from the stigma of permitting such wretchedness as continual alms-seeking implies. If these men will cease their wick- edness, and stop " humbugging" about fugi- tives, betake themselves to useful and honor- able business, befitting their station or sphere, and give encouragement to good measures, we will not oppose them; but until we see 'signs of repentance, and they stop their doings, we will continue to hold them up to the gaze of an indignant people. So the True Band members of Amherstburg, and any other point, who are moved by the right spirit, shall have our help in their labours, and best wishes for their entire success. We care not though Mr. Fairfield should be a member, so he is not permitted to show the « claws," as he did at London and Chatham. certainly old enough to know what they want, and it. is unspeakably humiliating when any of them are found to take counsel of those not able to give it from ignorance, or not honest enough to give the right kind, What we want to help to do, is, to reform these reformers, like Rice & Co., or to see them change, then things will be well enough. To be sure, some will have to be on their death-bed first; but a man like Fairfield, who tells fugitives one thing in London, and trumpets his own fame in Windsor, in such a way as to give the con- tradiction to what he said in the same place only a few months ago, and in London or Chatham, but a few weeks before, and who is comparatively a young man, may live to change. We hope he will; and will try to improve his mind, the same as"an ignorant black man should do, and his manners, as an impudent one of the same color would be inexcusable were he not to do--and_ be- come a modest, respectable, truthful sort of white man, though of the common sort, as he is; we wish him all that change, at last, and then we will be justified in ceasing to warn the fugitive. against any bad schemes of his, for then he will be ashamed to make any. Aiding Slaves to Escape. By advertisements from Southern papers, there appears to be a brisk business on the U. G.R. R., just now, but which we think might be increased by a more extensive organization. Slaveholders have organized to stop its operations, and more Conductors should be put on--should be regularly em- ployed, and paid fair wages. Scores of men South, as well as North, and West, should be engaged, and so make the road pay bet_ ter and the risks of capture less. fa Mrs. Martha Ann Moseby, wife of Wm. Moseby, from Richmond, Virginia, is now in this city, and is anxious to ascertain where her husband is. He was known to some by the name of Wm. Dandridge. If friends in Detroit or Amherstburg, or at any other place in which this paper is taken, should know of such a person, they will con- fer a great favor upon his distressed wife, by communicating the intelligence to him, or by sending word to her. A letter ad- dressed to Orpheus Rufiin, of this city, will meet with prompt attention. The New Orleans Picaywne comments ap- provingly upon the position taken by the Toronto Colonist against Fugitives. The article will appear in our next. oes Destructive Fires in this City. On Thursday morning last, the house oc- cupied by Mr. J, Lewis, on Peter Street, took fire from a stove in the apartment of some German tenants, and was partly destroyed. Mr. Lewis lost all his furniture, but a few ar- ticles, and also money. Mr. Mechaud, a lodger, also lost considerably. About 2 o'clock, yesterday morning, the residences of Messrs. J. G. Joseph, Meudell, Holdsworth, Childs, and Lewis, situated on Church Street, opposite the Catholic Church, were consumed. The fire originated in the stables, and was thus com- municated to the houses. The furniture was considerably damaged.. News by the Baltic, The Baltic arrived at New York, June 28th. The Allies continue their successes steadily. The French captured the Mame- lon and White Tower, after a severe con- flict, in which 5000 were killed and wounded. They took 62 guns, and 500 prisoners, At the same time, the English took the Rifle works, but lost 500 killed and wounded. All communications with Sebastopol is cut off, except by way of Perekop, which is also in imminent danger from the fleet. Suir ror Fueirive Staves.--We learn says the Baltimore Patriot, of the 14th inst., that Mr. Abraham Getzendennor, from near Frederick, in this State, arrived in Balti- more yesterday, for the purpose of instituting a suit against the Northern Central Railway | Company to Recover the value of certain slaves, belonging to himself and others, and transported within the reach of rescue by the agent of the company. It seems the slaves applied for passage at York, Pa., when | - /appears they were permitted to pass. information, it is alleged, was given to the conductor that they were fugitives, but it matter. involves.a question of great impor- tance to!slaveholders. -- ares Correspondence. To the Eiditress of the Provincial Freeman : Dear Mapam,--Allow me to offer a few remarks, through the columns of the Freeman, if you think them worthy of a place,--the subject is relative to the " 'T'rue Band Society of Chatham." As the President of that Society, I feel it to be my duty to speak in the behalf of this. Association, and for the County of Kent. First, the people of this County stand inde- pendently upon their own resources; as a class of peopte, I think we have no superiors. In the next place, as a society, we will not be responsible for, or take to ourselves any- thing that shall come under our notice, unless it be detrimental to the peace of .the True Band Society of the City of Chatham. Again, some believe that we are led on by one Mr. Fairland. We honestly admit that that gentleman was the mover of an associa- tion of that name; but we wish it distinctly understood, that he is not our leader, neither do we know anything of his four millions. But, asa body of independent freemen, of the Province of Canada, we stand on our own humble resources, to aid our oppressed bro- 'thers that shall land amongst us, and to sup- port each other in the time of need. 'The clares that we, as a representing a part of the people, do not think it needful that any person or persons living in the Province of Canada, should ask for or receive aid or charity in any shape from the citizens of the United States. And we, as independent freemen of Bri- tish North America, shall ever condemn any such proceeding on the part of our people, or of the citizens of the United States of America. Yours, respectfully, Joun B. Lott. CratHau, June 20, 1855. The above letter from Mr. Lott, although much more friendly and liberal than we had expected, considering his indignation against us, for what we have in all conscience been obliged to say, is at fault in at least one particular. He attempts to speak for Kent County; as President of a simple society, he cannot do that. He cannot make the world believe that the thousands of colored men in Kent are sympathisers of Mr. Fair- field, and unless there has been a mass meeting, or convention, or the people had before spoken, however good the society he represents, he could only speak for that ; it is no part of his duty as such, to speak for the County; he has admitted this, by de- claring that they shall notice nothing, unless it be detrimental to the peace of their Society. The tribute paid by him to the colored men of Kent, 'is well deserved, and will be the more highly appreciated, no doubt, as coming voluntarily and individually from him. We are, much pleased to see, that as President of the Society, he now distinctly disavows Mr. Fairfield's leadership, or influ- ence over them at present, and also their future condemnation of those, whether " citi- zens of the United States or Canada," who shall encourage begging, or receiving the "coods;" it is a pity such influence was not repelled in the first instance. Had Fairfield not been allowed to sway their better judgments, there would not have been: so much confusion in Chatham. It would be better for societies and individuals, had they better memories, for then they would not forget so soon the contradictory state- ments made by Fairfield and such men. However, we are pleased to see that a step in the right way is being taken by the Chatham Society, and hope they will stick to it. Of course, we are not influenced by Constitutions, they are stretched to suit any case often, but this public committal against begging, or receving such goods and money , must tell powerfully against them, should they ever do what we hope they will not, attempt to change ground. While speaking of Fairfield, we will state just here, that a party from Windsor, sends what purports to be a speech, and a cunning speech it is, by Mr. Fairfield, at that place which, from the trouble, and time it would take to render it correctly, and the length of it, we shall not give; in which, however, about God, and the poor fugitives, a great deal of "fudge" about the battles he has fought, and full grown puffs of his 21 years services to the fugitives, and other " whop- pers," we are represented as being wrong some, and himself some. The artful trum- peter of his own doubtful fame, has, to believe his reporter, made our " truest friends" feel very sorry for us. Carnot help it, though. If we have any friends weak enough to be carried away by that con- centration of ignorance, brass, folly and flesh, we can only say we are ashamed of them. We hope the time will come, when they will prossess enough of spirit and intelligence to estimate our actions and motives, without getting men of his class to help them, if they should never grow that tall, we can afford to lose their friendship. . We shall also be able to attend to cases of unnecessary or injurious influence or med- dling, by Fairfield, or any other man, and when the proper time comes, shall not fail to 'state out in meetings, facts in our prossession, which if currently known at present, would make men and women cautious about frater- nizing several pretended philanthropists, now handed around, lest the discerning might be compelled to adopt the old maxim in regard. tomany we would like to . see In. better company, that. "birds of. a feather. flock together, ; ae Fe Be 7 eS gee: & ay a a The | Constitution of our Society distinctly de~ with much art, a deal of hypocrisy and cant |. 'mant, who speaks in high terms of him, @ [obo also says, that as neat For the Provincial Freeman, AmurrstpurG, June 20th, 1855, Miss M. A. SHapp,--I have seen several. 2 | publications in the Freeman, pro and con _| in relation to Mr. Fairfield; I shall leave hin, "| to fight his own battles; but there is one thing I shall defend, and that is, the "True Band Society." Iam a member of it, and | take an active part in it, and have delivereg a few lectures in the vicinity, in favour of i+ I am a strong opposer to the begging sys. 5 tem, and for this reason we organized thi Society, as a death blow to the whole beg. ging scheme. We think as much of the four million dollar sckeme as you do, and protest against anything being brought from. the other side, by begging. This begging system has been carried on here by Isaac J,- Rice, and has been supported by a fey ignorant colored men. - The cursed system we are determined to overtk . upon you to assist us in doin Ye ing so. So far ; we from being beggars, that we have formed the above Society, in order to let the world know that we are able tome are-of-4ne. o ake care of fugitives on their first landing, our Our Society numbers over 200 members. here, and we are all glad when the fit . Tuesday in the month comes, to meet toge- © ther to pay our monthly dues, and hear suitable lectures on the occasion. By the promptness of our Society, we have been eble to relieve all cases of suffering, and have some fifty dollars in the treasury, in readiness. Is this notright? Are we not_ acting like men? Do-you not-sanction oy, course, and wish us God speed ? Levi Foster. -- P, S--I send you An Appeal of the -- Fugitives in Canada to their Friends in the United States;" will you please to give it | roora in your valuable paper? If itis too large for one insertion, continue it in two or three, to sult your convenience. ls Bae For the Provincial Freeman. 'Mass Meeting at Chatham, The Colored Citizens of this place, held a Mass Meeting, on Saturday, June 23rd, in the Ist Baptist Chapel, on King St, for the purpose of expressing their sympathy with Her Majesty's Government in its present" struggle with Russia, and to awaken colored men to their duty in this emergency. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rey. H.- J. Young, Mr, H. C. Jackson was appoint- ed Chairman, and I. D. Shadd, Secretary. Messrs. H. H. Hawkins, J. Walden and J. B. Lott, who were appointed at a previous meeting to make speeches on the occasion, were then called for; but the two former being absent, Mr. J. C. Brown was called upon to address the meeting. Mr. Brown being indisposed, was rather brief in his re- marks, but pressed upon the minds of the people the necessity of being prepared to act like men, should their services be needed by the Government. | rupted with applause, Mr. Brown was fol- He was frequently inter- lowed by Revds. M. L. Gales and J. J. Fitzgerald, who spoke at considerable length. After which, the following resolutions were offered by I. D. Shadd, and adopted. 1. Resolved--That we, the Colored 'people of Kent County, Canada West, assembled in Mass Meeting, this 23rd of June, feeling indebted to Her Most Gracious Majesty, and Her Govern- ment, make known vur willingness and determi- nation to assist in arresting the usurpations of Russia or any other power. 2. Resolved--That after having been subjected to the iniquitous system of Yankee oppression, and having the privilege of a home on British Territory extended to us, in common with all others of Her adopted subjects, the duty devolves upon us to aid in any and every case where we would be in any way serviceable. ee 3. Resolved--That in consideration of the difii- culties existing between Her Majesty's Govern- ment and the Government of Russia,.and forming as we doa portion of the subjects of the former, we deeply sympathize with Her Most Gracious Ma- jesty in the loss of those brave and gallant troops who waded in the blood of thousands with invin- cible courage, to break the iron arm of Russian oppression. 4, Resolved,--That it is the duty of every man to act up to the above Resolution, and each and every one who is not willing and does not feel it to be his duty to stand in defence of the Go- vernment that shields him from oppression, is not worthy of the esteem of the Canadian people, an should not be allowed the privileges of British subjects. 3 Moved by Mr. J. C. Brown and adopted:-- That we return thanks to the Editress of the Provincial Freeman, for the noble stand she has taken, in advocating these Provinces asa home of freedom for all, and a land adopted to promote the prosperity of, the people who make it their residence. Moved by Rev. J. J. Fitzgerald,-- That the Proceeding of this Meeting be published by the Secretary, in the Provincial Freeman, and Chatham papers; and that papers friendly be requested to copy. _ J.C. Jacxson, Chairman. I, D. Saapp, Secrelary. For the Provincial Freeman. Dear Freeman :--Having seen nothing in the papers relative to'these matters, I hat ten to place you in possession of the following vague items of information, as I receivel them, under the hope that some of your read- ers, friendly to the oppressed, and who may be acquainted with the individual, whose name is herein mentioned, may recognize bis name, and finally be able to render him somé assistance, : My informant, an elderly gentleman, wh resides here, but who formerly resided in the Township of West Guillimbury, says, that on a recent visit to West Guillimbury and Tecumseh, he learned that a letter had beet received some weeks since, by his acquait" tance, Mr. Giles Webb, (also formerly of West Guillimbury, 10th Con. two miles from Pentanguishene Road, but now of Tecumseh; from John Tuckett, a colored native 'of the West Indies, stating that he is now in ae very, having been kidnapped in the Northern | States and taket¥ South. It appears. that Mr. Tuckett was brought from the West Indies, some twenty years 2go, by Mr. Webb, with whom he lived until he became 2 young /man. During bis-stay with,Mr.. Webb; he nfor- and was frequently in the employ of my } oe