i & "jects that we should all have in view, be- » ed ;--The vast expenses annually incur- HENRY BIBB, EDITOR. , SANDWICH, C. W., JULY 16, 1851, VOL. I. NO. 15. 'VOICE OF THE FUGITIVE. EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY, AT SANDWICH CANADA WEST. : ED E> ERE UE Sse ONE DOLLAR per annum, always in advance _No subscription will be received for a less erm than six months, 4 Advertisements. not excecding (en lines, insertet four times for one dollar. Every subsequent insertion twenty five cents. 4 For the Voice of the Fugitive. CANADIAN COLONIZATION. . . : . Mr, Editor ;--In relation to the scheme of one systematic colonization in Canada West, there are some fundamental ob- sides the chief idea of the renovation of our race, set forth in my previous com- munications; and which should be most deeply impressed upon the minds of those that shall take a leading part amongst us as public men. Ist. We should be moved with a deep sense of gratitude towards her miajesty's government, for the untiring exertion it has mude in var.ous ways in behalf of the |. African race. Such as the magnanimous West India 'Emancipation Act, by which 800,000 human beings were disenthral- red for the suppression of the slave trade. by negotiating treaties to that effect with all the maratime powers of the earth, and supporting a large squadron on the coast of Africa ; -- the discouragement it gave to slave labor, by sustaining the differen- tial duties up to 1846 in favor of free la- bor ;--and finally the 'secure asylums it offers to the fugitive slaves in all parts of the imperial dominion, on which the sun never sets. These considerations are sufficient to move us to preserve a lasting debt of gratitude, render us good and faithful subjects, and prompt us to be of valuable service to the empire. of your distiuguished correspondent in Toronto, J. agriculture, about supplying the home The suggestions 'TY'. Fisher, in his letter on market from the products of Canada, were timely enumerated and should be treasured up by every one of us, who shall seek an asylum in her majesty's ao- minions, to be the, goal of all our exer- tions. The 2d object we should have in view, ought to be the deter mination to add our mite to sustain the impregnable barrier that Great Britain must ever oppose to the rapacious territorial aggrandizement of the United States, so far as her own 'lominions are concerned on the Ameri- can Continent. The 3d object we should have in view ought to be to develope ourselves moral- ly, intellectually, and industriously on the Atrerican Continent, in the north temperate zone, and side by side with the Anglo-American. We should be mov- ed to establish on an basis the fact of the adaptability of any portion of the human race to exist and incontrovertible develope themselves equally in any cli- mate, and amongst any people where they may colonize, no matter from what place they come, and under what circumstances they may have lived. This is one of the great and essential points that must demonstrate the unity of the human race, and prove the supe- riority of man over the brute creation.-- ciprocal influence of one portion of the human race oyer another, will the fact of the unity and natural equality of all the human family be established. On the point of the physical adaptability it may be already clearly deduced, that the white man can be as easily adapted to Africa as the negro has been to Europe and A- merica, no matter what may be the dis- asters of the acclimating process of the first generations. Who. can tell what our first ancestors suffered when they were transported to the shores of Ameri- ca, influences was so decimated as to nearly run out, it was continually re-enforced by means of the infernal slave trade, until a stock was generated on the soil, in which a complete physical adaptability was se- cured. Therefore we may conclude that a continual stream of emigrants to a transplanted Kuropean stock in Africa, would produce the same result. But to return to the thread of my dis- course. If the fact of the moral, intel- lectual and industrial, as well as physical development, be demonstrated by us in America, equal with that of the Anglo American, and therefore establish the par- allel conclusion, of what would be the de- velopment of the the Europeans in Africa, the proof of the point would thus be in- destructibly established by the two branches of the race, which exhibit the antipodes or extreme points of the human character. Now I will make a summary of the srand objects before us involved in the subject of Canadian colonization, and conclude, Ist. The disenthralment and renova- tion of our race. 2d. To manifest gratitude for favors bestowed upon our race by Great Britain. 3d. To pledge ourselves to the defence of the position we will occupy in behalf of the government which so kindly re- ceives us. 4th. To place our natural powers in rivalry with the leading race of the world, and solve a great human problem. 'These are the noble inspirations which the subject opens before us, and with which it invites us on to a glorious des- tiny. Nothing grander was ever presented in a political sense, to engage the human mind, heart and hands. Will we avail ourselves of this oppor- tunity with a noble enthusiasm? Or will we stand mute and motionless, until the ceaseless march of time shall overwhelm us In our inertness, and bury our memo- On the sc- lution of these questions hang our des- ry in an infamous oblivion? tiny. May God inspire us in the right direction. Ae ee aed SECESSION MADNESS. The Southern Press seriously attempts to prove that the strength of South Caro- lina, should she secede from the Union, would be on the sea; and that half a doz- en steamers could annihilate the entire commerce of the United States! The following is the reasoning upon which the most wild calculation is based : '© Tf then a collision should occur be- tween South Carolina and the federal government and the other States, the inevitable course of events will be that she will invite into her navy both steamers and men, and with her commission they will have three millions of tons of shipping worth one hundred millions of dollars,and And when we, who are exclusively sur- rounded by the progressive influence of| the Anglo American, shall demonstrate | this point in ourselves, by an equal de-| velopment in all these respects, we may | logically conclude that the white race | transplanted to Africa would not only be- come physically adapted to the soil and climate, but being continually and ex-| clusively surrounded by the deteriorating circumstances that exist there,they wo'd in the course of generations degenerate to the same standard as that exhibited by another hundred million of cargo afloat, belonging to the assailing States,to supply her navy with prize money. And such avast and tempting fund would invite almost as many auxiliaries as California gold itself. 'There are all the States of Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Flor- pathisers with South Carolina. There are forty thousand steam navigators on the Mississippi--men intensely fond of adventure, of war, of glory, and of prize money. 'There are ship owners of the North, of New York and Boston, who would enter for the prizes. There would If the human stock under climatic |. States--and the consequence would be, that in one year after the contest began, there would be no safety in the entire coasting trade--nor could .a vessel at- tempt with prudence to enter or to de- part from the harbor of New York itself. "The commercial States have two hundred millions of dollars worth of ton- nage and merchandize constantly expos- ed on the sea. Half a dozen rapid steamers would render this all unsafe.-- And does any man suppose that this number of the fastest of steamers could not be comanded by South Carolina, with such an immense fund for remunera- tion |" - The Boston Journal offers the follow- Ing comments on this foolish rhodomon- tade. "This is a piratical way uf doing bus- Iness, eminently worthy of traitors to their country. At the risk of giving this ludicrous scheme a fictitious importance, we would advise the secessionists not to lay the flattering unction to their souls that they can obtain the services of a band of piratical marauders to do their fighting. 'They should bear in mind that the Mexican government, during the last war, offered letters of marque to any person who would apply, but found only one privateer to engage in her service.-- The first capture made by that vessel was the last. 'The privateer took her prize into some port in Spain, where it was re- stored to the rightful owners, and the crew of the privateer barely escaped hanging as pirates., If Mexico, an inde- pendent nation, could not enlist the ser- vices of privateers, with the tempting prospect held out of rich prizes, how can South Carolin, a revolting State, ex- pect to succeed better? Whoever hap- pened to be caught roving the seas under a commission from such a source would pretty certainly be hung as pirates." From the Green Mountain Freeman. FRUITS OF THE FUGITIVE LAW. Kidnapping has received quite an im- pulse from the Fugitive Law, especially in Pennsylvania, where the Buchanan in- fluence prevails. The Pittsburgh Ga- zette mentions the case of Charles Wed- ley, a colored man, a native of Pittsburgh, where he has always resided : " Wedley," says the Gazette, ' wish- ing to visit the Hastern cities, but not having the means, was about to become a deck hand on a river steamer, to earn funds, when a white man named Speer, and a colored man, named Lindsey Lewis, who said that they had plenty of money, offered to take him east, free of expense. He accepted their, invitation. "The three set out on foot, and when they reached Licking Creek, in Bedford County, a gang of ruffians rushed upon Wedley, and declared that they knew him well--that he was a slave, and had es- caped from Wheeling. It is needless to say that this was a falsehood, poor Wed- ley having been born in this city, where he has ever since resided; but, despite his resistance and prayers, he was ironed, and hurried over the Maryland line.-- Lewis and Speer returned to Pittsburgh, without going to Philadelphia, as they now allege, for Wedley's free papers; but an aunt of the latter asking Lewis after his arrival, where her nephew was, he said that he had remained in Philadel- phia. "In the mean time, Wedley, closely guarded and heavily ironed, was taken to the interior of Maryland, where he was offered for sale to a man who fortunately was acquainted with a number of persons in Pittsburgh. He entered into conver- sation with the alleged slave, and found him so intelligent that he declared he would not purchase him at any price, be- cause 'he knew too much, and would not only run off himself, but cause his other slaves to escape likewise.' '* After a long conversation, in which Wedley described the street in which he resided; gave an account of the city ; told the names of the principal inhabitants, and their business, together with the names of all the mayors for some years back, the gentlernan became convinced that he was a freeman. He was, how- ever, taken away, and chained to a bed post, where he remained for twenty hours, but was finally released by the gentleman | who had interrogated him so closely, who |likewise pointed out the road which he jida, that contain such multitudes of sym-| must pursue in order to escape from the | kidnappers. He had been three days in | irons. | "This gentleman deserves the highest | credit for his kindness ; since, otherwise, | Wedley might have been doomed to drag jout a life of hopeless servitude ; and we only regret that we are unable to find out sound, after an absence of two weeks, and we trust that the rascals who kidnapped him, whoever they may be, may receive that punishment which they so well de- serve."" The last number of the Free Presby- terian, published at Mercer, Pennsylva- nia, relates another case, no less flagrant : " A colored man, named Frank Jack- son, son of Elijah Jackson, of Newcastle, formerly of Mercer, is now confined in Fincastle jail, in Virginia, as a fugitive slave. Frank went with a drover, named Charles May, sometime since, to Rich- mond, While there, May sold him as a slave, without his knowledge, to a slaye- holder named Jones. He escaped from the possession of Jones, but was arrested in a neighboring county, and committed to jail in Fincastle. An attorney of that place, named W. A. Glass, has written to Mercer and to Newcastle for certificates, as evidence that Frank is a free man.-- These haye been forwarded from this place and from Neweastle. Jackson is rather deficient in natural talents, and hence might easily be made the dupe of a scoundrel. : "very old citizen of Mercer knows Frank was born free. But whether he will ever be restored to his birthright again, we suppose is doubtful. This is another precious illustration of the bless- ings of our ' peculiar institution." The cases in which the kidnappers are baffled, find their way of course, into the public prints. The cases in which they succeed are not so readily brought to light. Chis Justice Hornpiower pronoun- ces the Fugitive Slave Law Unconstitu- tional. We are permitted to make the following extract from a letter from Chief Justice Hornblower, to Senator Chase, dated Newark, N. J., April 9, 1851. -- Toledo Republican. «Somewhere about the year 1836, a fugitive slave came before us, upon a ha- beas corpus, allowed by me, (and it was a few days before our regular term)made returnable at bar. On that occasion (when no such excitement existed as now prevails,) I wrote an opinion, to the ef- fect, that, Ist, Congress had no authority to legislate on the subject: 2d, whether Congress had such power or not, no man could be deprived ofa trial by Jury, when his personal identity, his age, his owner- ship of himself, and his obligation to serve another as his slave, werein issue. The opinion was not read by me from the bench(although the amount of it was cral- ly stated by me,) because it became unnec- essary, My associate justices uniting with ie in opinion, that the Magisirate had no right to " commit" the man claimed asa slave, as he had done, to the custody of the Sheriff, for safe keeping, until his mas- ter came for him, our jails not being built for the safe keeping of any man's slaves, but for'criminals only, " SLAVERY. HOW THEY HATE A provision has been adopted by the Virginia Reform Conyention, in Com- mittee of the Whole, prohibiting the Le- gislature of the State from passing any law for the emancipation of slaves. This is locking themselves in the infernal pit and throwing away the key. Well might Jefferson tremble for his country when he reflected that God is just. Maryitanp Consziturion. -- " The Legislature shall not pass any Jaw abol- ishing the relation of master and slave as it now exists," Also,--" The doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression, is absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind." Such is American hypocrisy. 'This proslavery action of the South is the nat- ural result of subserviency in the North. Had the Proviso been maintained, such as the above would not haye been seen.-- Portland Enq. Arrest or A Fuairive, --A colored, man by the name of Jesse Whitman, charged with being a runaway slave o John Conrad, of London Co., Va., was arrested in Wilkesbarre, Penn., and taken to Philadelphia, on Tuesday, by the As- sistant U. S. Marshal for the Western District and there placed on board the Baltimore boat, under the charge of a strong police force. A writ of habeas cor- SLAVERY IN RHODE ISLAND. [From an Address delivered before the Rhode Island Historical Society by the Hon. Elisha R. Potter. As buying and selling into slavery was a common practice in the early history of the New England colonies, it is prob- able that a few slaves might have been found here very soon after our first set- tlement. We find an act passed to pro- hibit their purchase as early as 1652, but as the colony was then divided against itself, as well as contending against its neighbors, it probably was not enforced. At any rate, we find that just before the revolution, about one hundred years af- terwards, the colony contained about four -- thousand negroes, most em probab slaves, 4, Slavery, the colonies themselves were perhaps littie to blame. As with perse- cution, the spirit of the age was in favor of it. Royalists and republicans had sold each other as slaves into the colonies.* The English government, partly from political and partly from commercial views, encouraged the traffic in negroes: they made the acquisition and protection of it the subject of Foreign negotiation, and to the English people (at home) be- longed the greater part of this commerce: and the enormous profit of it. A French traveler, (Brissot,) remarks, that the En- glish made the greatest profit from the trade, because they treated their slaves: worse and therefore could afford to sell them cheaper. Although doubts were early entertain- ed of the legality of Slavery in England, the benefit of those doubts were never ex- tended to the colonies. Chief Justice Holt had given his opinion that a negro could not be held as a slave in England, although a white man might be a villain, which was nearly the same.t In 1696, the question was agitated but not decided, whether baptism made a slave free ; (5 Modern Rep.) but in 1729, the Attorney General and Solicitor Gen- eral of England, to quiet apprehension. in the colonies, gave their legal opinion in favor of slavery on both these questions, and it was not until 1772, just before the termination of their rule over us, 'that the magnificent burst of English philanthropy in the case of James Somerset, a coloni- al slave who had been brought into Eng- land, the world was surprised by a judi-- cial decision, that slavery could not exist in England--that the slave from the col- onies became a free man as soon as he stood upon British soil--cheap justice-- costing nothing to the doers of it: a great display of generosity at the expense of others, Public opinion in the colonies was pro- bably at first against the introduction of slaves; at least it wassoin Rhode Island, so far as we may judge from our laws, but the weakness of the government opposed few obstacles to the cupidity of individu- als, and in course of time it grew to be an interest of itself,-influencing but nev- er in this State absolutely controlling the gorernment. Much of the early opposition in New Englang, however, was not to slavery, as such, but only to some particlar mode of it. As in Europe, Christians early ceased the practice of enslaving each other, and the practice of selling one's own children: was early abolished, but still conscience and interest went together in enslaving Moors and Blackamoors ; so in New Eng- land, a similar compromise of conscience took place, but in a different direction. Many people in Massachusets declared themselves against kidnapping and steal- ing negroes from Africa. The injustice' of this they could see, but Indians met with no mercy. Mr. Mede had given his opinion that they were descendants of the devil: and Father Hubbard, in consid- ering the question of the manner in which America was peopled, remarks that ' Mr. Mede's opinion carries the greatest pro- * Bancroft, I. 175. ae: 666 The plaintiff declared in an in- debiatus sssumpsit, for a ucpzrosold by the plaintiff }to the defendant in Knglund, and verdict for plain- tifand on motion in arrest of judgment, Holt C, J. held, that as soon as a negro comes into Eng- land, he becomes free; one may be a villain in [-england, but nota slave. Et per Powell, J. In a villain the owner has a property, but it is as an inheritance; f + # the law took no notice ofanegro. HoltJ.C. You should have averred in the declaration that the sale was in Virginia, and by the laws of that country negroes are saleable, . . ¥ Therefore he di- pus was taken out, but the soat shoved | rected the plaintiff should amend, and the decla~ off before it could be served. fought desperately, for his liberty, but was overpowered. 0<> Being our own master sometimes means that we are at liberty to be the | be the enterprising, the adventurous, the | his name. Towards the close of last week | slave of our own follies, caprices, and the native African. Thus beat re-| warlike from many of the Southern| Wedley arrived in Pittsburgh, safe and | passions. The man| ration should be made that the defendant was ins |debted to the plaintiff for a negro sold here im London. but that the said negro atthe time of sale was in Virginia, and that negeoes by the laws and | statues of Virginia are saleable a8 chattels, 'Then | the Attorney ¢ in, said they were | inheritances, and transferable by deed and not | without, and nothing was done." | Tenure by villanage was finally abolished in | Rage by Statute 12 Charles If. c. 24, A. D |! 199. For the early introduction of Negro -