USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania > Part 23
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I immediately drove to the residence of William H. Johnson, the noted abolitionist, who instantly took hold of the matter, and went out to spread the news far and wide among the anti-slavery people. Iarrived in Doyles- town fully an hour before Basil was brought by his captors, who were of course amazingly surprised to see me. I at once secured the services of the ablest lawyer in the town, Mr. Ross, the father of the late Judge Ross, who urged the postponement of the case upon Basil's oath of having free papers left in the hands of a friend living in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
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Doubtless the judge was deeply impressed by the ap- pearance in the court-room of the delicate and beautiful wife and the young children clinging to the husband and father, who, looking the picture of despair, sat with the evidences in his torn and soiled garments of the terrible conflict through which he had passed.
The claimant obtained legal services in the person of
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a Mr. Griffith, a young lawyer. Notwithstanding the urgency of their counsel to have the case immediately decided, the judge postponed it for two weeks.
This was all I expected to obtain. My duty lay clearly before me, and I resolved that no effort should be spared to secure Basil's freedom. With this view I strove to arouse the colored people to rescue him in the event of his being remanded to his captors.
The plan adopted was to assemble in squads about the three leading roads of the town, and use means adequate for the purpose of liberating him. Most fortunately, however, by an unexpected turn of events, a resort to these desperate measures was rendered unnecessary. Desiring to make use of every available means to secure the liberty of this worthy man, I called upon that emi- nent lawyer and philanthropist, David Paul Brown, and asked him if he would not appear in behalf of the de- fense. He promptly responded to my request, saying : " I am always ready to defend the liberty of any human being." I then tendered him a fee of fifty dollars, which he at once refused. " I shall not now," he said, "nor have I ever accepted fee or reward, other than the approval of my own conscience, and I respectfully de- cline receiving your money, I shall be there," and turning to his barber he asked : " Will you get me up so that I can go in the stage coach which leaves at four o'clock in the morning ?"
The day of trial came, and the slave-holder was there, bringing with him additional proof in the persons of his neighbors, to swear as to the identity of the man. Armed with the bill of sale, the victory seemed an easy one. The claimant at one time was willing to take five hun- dred dollars for his slave which we agreed to give, yielding to the earnest entreaty of Bacil, although it was in violation of our principles, as we have always denied the right of property in man.
He advanced his price to eight hundred at Doylestown, and when that was agreed to declined taking less than one thousand dollars. Basil then said, " no more offers,
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if the decision goes against me, I will cut my throat in the Court House, I will not go back to slavery." /I applauded his resolution ; horrible as it might be, it seemed better than his return to a living death. Then for the first time I unfolded our plans for his liberation. The case was called promptly at the hour agreed upon, and Mr. Griffith spreading out his bill of sale, and pointing to his witnesses, the friends of the claimant, who had come for the purpose of identifying this man as his property opened his case with an air of the utmost confidence in the result. Mr Brown in his turn quickly arose, and the magnetism of his presence was felt by the crowded court room, nine tenths of whom were doubtless in sympathy with the poor slave. He commenced by saying; " I desire to test this case by raising every objection, and may it please your honor, these gentleman, who hail from Liberty, Frederic county, Maryland, are here according to law to secure their ' pound of flesh,' and it is my duty to see that they shall not 'get one drop of blood.' As a preliminary question I demand authority to show that Maryland is a slave State."
Mr. Griffith, with a self-satisfied air, remarked : " Why, Mr. Brown, everybody knows Maryland is a slave State." " Sir, everybody is nobody," was the quick retort of his opponent.
The judge entertained the objection, and Mr. Griffith went out and soon returned with a book containing a compilation of the Laws of Maryland.
The book was not considered authority, and poor Mr. Griffith, confused and disconcerted, requested Mr. Brown to have the lease postponed until afternoon.
" Do you make that request," inquired his adversary, " on the ground of ignorance of the law ?"
Mr. Griffith in an appealing tone said : " Mr. Brown, I am a young man, and this is my first, case ; I pray you do not press your objections ; give me some time, for, should I fail in this case, it would be ruinous to my future prospects."
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Laying his hand on the young lawyer's shoulder, Mr. Brown replied : "Then, my dear sir, you will have the consolation of having done a good deed, though you did not intend it."
The judge was prompt in dismissing the case, saying that he would not furnish another warrant, but they might secure his re-arrest by obtaining one from a magistrate. Profiting by this suggestion, Griffith and his clients hastily left the court-room. I was equally prompt ; having previously ordered my horse and buggy to be brought in front of the Court House, I took hold of Basil, and hurried him towards the door. In the excitement which prevailed, a colored man, who was outside, seeing me hustling Basil before me, and think- ing he had been remanded to slavery, and I was his master, raised a heavy stick, and was about to strike me, when a friendly hand interposed, and saved me from the blow.
We were no sooner seated in the vehicle than the slave-catchers, armed with a magistrate's warrant, came rushing upon us. As they were about to seize the horse, a stroke of the whip on the young and excited animal, caused him to rear and dash ahead. A round of hearty applause from the sympathizing crowd served as an additional impetus to urge us onward. After running the horse about two miles, I came upon a party of colored men who were to assist in rescuing the slave. Resting a short time, I pursued my journey to Phila- delphia, a distance of twenty-six miles, and drove directly to my mother's house, where Basil was safely lodged. I afterwards accompanied him to New York, and placed him in the hands of Joshua Leavett, the editor of The Emancipator, who sent him to Connecticut to find em- ployment on his father's farm. He remained there some time, and then removed with his family to Northampton, where he worked for Mr. Benson, a brother-in-law of William Lloyd Garrison. Mr. Dorsey died a few years ago, a highly-esteemed and respectable citizen, leaving a widow and a number of children.
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Robert Purvis is well known throughout the country as an earnest speaker in the Anti-slavery cause, whose fervid eloquence, when he was warmed up with indig- nation at the wrongs suffered by the colored race in this country, was like the lightning stroke from heaven. He hated slavery as intensely as he loved liberty.
APPENDIX.
The following letters received by William Still at the Anti-slavery office in Philadelphia, illustrate the corres- pondence between agents.
KIMBERTON, October 28th, 1855.
ESTEEMED FRIEND :- This evening a company of eleven friends reached here, having left their homes on the night of the 26th inst. They came into Wilmington on the morning of the 27th, and left there in the town their two carriages drawn by two horses. They went to Thomas Garrett's by open day-light, and thence were sent hastily onward for fear of pursuit. After re- maining all night with one of the Kennett friends, they were brought to Downingtown early in the morning, and thence by daylight to within a short distance of this place.
They came from New Chestertown, within five miles of the place from which the nine lately forwarded came, and left behind them a colored woman who knew of their intended flight and of their intention of passing through Wilmington.
I have been thus particular in my statement, because the case seems to us one of unusual danger. We have separated the company for the present, sending a mother and five children, two of them quite small, in one direc- tion and a husband and wife and three children in another, until I could write to you and get advice ; if you have any to give, as to the best method of forward- ing them, and assistance pecuniarily, in getting them to Canada. The mother and children we have sent off the usual route and to a place where I do not think they can remain many days.
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We shall await hearing from you ; H. Kimber will be in the city on Third-day, the 30th, and anything left at 408 Green street, directed to his care, will meet with prompt attention.
Please give me again the direction of Hiram Wilson, and the friend in Elmira, Mr. Jones, I think. If you have heard from any of the nine since their safe arrival, please let us know when you write.
Very respectfullly,
G. A. LEWIS.
Second-day morning, 29th .- The person who took the husband and wife and three lads to E. F. Pennypacker and Lewis Peart, has returned and reports that L. Peart sent three on to Norristown. The women and children detained in this neighborhood, are a very help- less set. Our plan was to assist them as much as pos- sible, and when we get things into the proper train for sending them on, to get the assistance of the husband and wife who have no children, but are uncle and aunt to the woman with five, in taking with them one of the younger children, leaving fewer for the mother. Of the lads, or young men, there is also one who we thought capable of accompanying one of the older girls to one of whom he is paying attention, they told us. Would it not be the best way to get those in Norristown under your own care? It seems to me their being sent on could then be better arranged. This however is only a sug- gestion.
Hastily Yours,
- G. A. LEWIS.
The above party of eleven is described in the account of Eusebius and Sarah P. Barnard.
SCHUYLKILL, 11th mo. 29th, 1855.
DEAR FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- Those boys will be along by the last Norristown train to-morrow even-
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ing. I think the train leaves Norristown at six o'clock, but of this inform thyself. The boys will be sent to a friend at Norristown, with instructions to assist them in getting seats in the last train that leaves Norristown to- morrow evening. They are two of the eleven who left some time since, and took with them some of their master's horses. I have told them to remain in the cars at Green St., until somebody meets them.
E. F. PENNYPACKER.
SCHUYLKILL, 11th Mo. 7th, 1857.
WILLIAM STILL, RESPECTED FRIEND :- There are three colored friends at my house now, who will reach the city by the Philadelphia and Reading train this evening. Please meet them.
Thine &c., E. F. PENNYPACKER.
We have within the past two months, passed forty- three through our hands, transported most of them to Norristown, in our own conveyance. E. F. P.
WILMINGTON, 3d Mo. 23d, 1856.
DEAR FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- Since I wrote thee this morning informing thee of the safe arrival of the eight from Norfolk, Harry Craig has informed me that he has a man from Delaware that he proposes to take along, who arrived since noon. He will take the man, woman and two children from here with him, and the four men will get in at Marcus Hook. Thee may take Harry Craig by the hand as a brother, true to the cause ; he is one of the most efficient aids on the Railroad, and worthy of full confidence. May they all be favored to get on safe. The woman and three children are no common stock. I assure thee finer specimens of human- ity are seldom met with. I hope herself and children may be enabled to find her husband who has been absent some years, and the rest of their days be happy together.
I am as ever, thy friend,
THOMAS GARRETT.
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WILMINGTON, 10th Mo. 31st, 1857.
ESTEEMED FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- I write to inform thee that we have either seventeen or twenty- seven, I am not certain which, of that large gang of God's poor, and I hope they are safe. The man who has them in charge informed me there were twenty- seven safe, and one boy lost during the last night, about fourteen years of age, without shoes ; we have felt some anxiety about him, for fear he may be taken up and betray the rest. I have since been informed there are but seventeen, so that at present I cannot tell which is correct. I have several looking out for the lad; they will be kept from Philadelphia for the present. My principal object in writing thee at this time is to inform thee of what one of our constables told me this morning ; he told me that a colored man in Philadelphia, who professed to be a great friend of the colored people, was a traitor, that he had been written to by an abolitionist in Baltimore to keep a look out for those slaves that left Cambridge this night week ; told him they would be likely to pass through Wilmington on Sixth-day or Seventh-day night, and the colored man in Philadel- phia had written to the master of part of them telling him the above, and the master arrived here yesterday in consequence of the information, and told one of our con- stables the above. The man told the name of the Baltimore writer, which he had forgotten, but declined telling the name of the colored man in Philadelphia. I hope you will be able to find out who he is, and should I be able to learn the name of the Baltimore friend, I will put him on his guard respecting his Philadelphia correspondents.
As ever thy friend, and the friend of humanity, with- out regard to color or clime.
THOMAS GARRETT.
9th Mo. 26th, 1856.
RESPECTED FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- I send on to thy care this evening by railroad, five able-bodied men,
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on their way North ; receive them as the Good Samaritan of old, and oblige thy friend.
THOMAS GARRETT.
RESPECTED FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- I now have the pleasure of consigning to thy care four able-bodied, human beings, from North Carolina, and five from Virginia-one of which is a girl twelve or thirteen years of age-the rest all men. After thee has seen and conversed with them, thee can determine what is best to be done with them. I am assured they are such as can take care of themselves. Elijah F. Pennypacker some time since informed me he could find employment in his neighborhood for two or three good hands. I should think those from Carolina would be about as safe in that neighborhood as any place this side of Canada. Wish- ing our friends a safe trip, I remain thy sincere friend.
THOMAS GARRETT.
After conferring with Harry Craig, we have con- cluded to send five or six in the cars to-night, and the balance, if those go safe, to-morrow night, or in the steam boat, Second-day morning, directed to the anti-slavery office.
WILMINGTON, 5th Mo. 11th, 1856.
ESTEEMED FRIENDS, M'KIM AND STILL :- I propose sending to-morrow morning by the steam-boat, a woman and child whose husband, I think, went some nine months previous to New Bedford. She was furnished with a free passage by the same line her husband came in. She has been away from the person claiming to be her master some five months, we therefore think there can- not be much risk at present. Those four I wrote thee about, arrived safe up in the neighborhood of Longwood, and Harriet Tubman followed after in the stage yester- day. I shall expect five more from the same neighbor- hood next trip.
As ever your friend, THOMAS GARRETT.
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WILMINGTON, 12th Mo. 1st, 1860.
RESPECTED FRIEND, WILLIAM STILL :- I write to let thee know that Harriet Tubman is again in these parts. She arrived last evening from one of the trips of mercy to God's poor, bringing two men with her as far as New Castle. I agreed to pay a man last evening to pilot them on their way to Chester county. The wife of one of the men, with two or three children, was left some thirty miles below, and I gave Harriet ten dollars to hire a man with carriage to take them to Chester county. She said a man had offered for that sum, to bring them on. I shall be very uneasy about them, until I hear they are safe. There is now much more risk on the road, till they arrive here, than there has been for several months past, as we find that some poor worthless wretches are constantly on the look out on two roads, that they cannot well avoid, especially with carriage; yet as it is Harriet, who seemed to have had a special angel to guard her on her journey of mercy, I have hope.
Thy friend,
THOMAS GARRETT.
N. B .- We hope all will be in Chester county, to- .morrow.
AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
FIRST CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, HELD IN PHILADELPHIA DECEMBER 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH, 1833 .- ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION AND DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS.
As the abolitionists, prior to the Rebellion, were vili- fied, reviled and persecuted, their labors and purposes misrepresented-sometimes through a want of proper knowledge, and sometimes through malice-I have deemed it advisable to insert in this work the Constitu"
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tion of the American Anti-slavery Society, with the Decla- ration of Sentiments adopted by them as embracing the principles and motives which actuated them in their efforts in behalf of the slave.
Local anti-slavery societies had already been formed in different parts of the Middle and New England States, and Colonization Societies had been organized, whose object was the gradual emancipation of slaves and their colonization in Africa; but WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, editor of The Liberator, felt that the time had come for more united and vigorous action which could best be set on foot by a call for a National Con- vention, having for its object immediate emancipation without expatriation. His views met with approval, and the convention was held in Philadelphia on the fourth, fifth and sixth of December, 1833. As the time ap- proached the fire of opposition and malice was kindled through the columns of different newspapers. The characters and purposes of the leading abolitionists were grossly misrepresented, and the fury of the mob element was ready to be aroused in that City of Brotherly Love, whose commercial interest in the South leagued them in feeling together.
On the day prior to the convention, several delegates and others were on board the steamer from New York to Philadelphia, coming to attend it, and some earnest discussions were held by different parties respecting it. One person, addressing himself to Samuel J. May, in- quired, " What, sir, are the abolitionists going to do in Philadelphia ?" Samuel replied that " they intended to form a National Anti-slavery Society.". This elicited an outpouring of those common-place and oft-reiterated
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objections that had grown familiar to the ear, when William Lloyd Garrison, who was sitting near by, took part in the conversatien, and expounded in a very lucid and admirable manner the doctrines and purposes of those who believed with him that the slaves -- the blackest of them-were men, entitled as much as the whitest and most exalted men in the land to their lib- erty, to a residence here if they chose, and to acquire as much wisdom, as much property, and as high a posi- tion as they might.
After a long conversation which attracted as many as could get within hearing, the gentleman said, courte- ously : " I have been much interested, sir, in what you have said, and in the exceedingly frank and temperate manner in which you have treated the subject. If all abolitionists were like you there would be much less objection to your enterprise. But, sir, depend upon it, that hair-brained, reckless, violent fanatic, Garrison, will damage, if he does not shipwreck any cause." Samuel J. May, stepping forward, said : "Allow me, sir, to introduce to you Mr. Garrison, of whom you enter- tain so bad an opinion. The gentleman you have been talking with is he." The look of incredulous surprise when this announcement was made can easily be im- agined.
- When they arrived in the city in the evening, brick bats, rotten eggs, tar and feathers, etc., were being talked of. The mayor and police had notified the Phil- adelphia abolitionists that they could not protect them in the evening, and therefore their meetings must be held by daylight.
It was decmed advisable, as more likely to insure
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peace, that their meetings be presided over by some prominent citizen of Philadelphia. But none who were spoken to would accept, and finally Rev. Beriah Green, of New York, was chosen President.
After drafting and adopting a Constitution, it was unanimously agreed that it was needful to give to the country and to the world a fuller declaration of the sentiments and purposes of the American Anti-slavery Society than could be embodied in its Constitution, and which should be to them in their efforts to secure lib- erty to the slave in this country, what the Declaration of Independence was to our Revolutionary Fathers in their efforts to " secure liberty to themselves and their posterity." It was therefore resolved "that Messrs. Atlee, Wright, Garrison, Joselyn, Thurston, Sterling, Wm. Green, Jr., Whittier, Goodell and May, be a com- mittee to draft a Declaration of Principles of the Amer- ican Anti-slavery Society for publication, to which the signatures of the members of this Convention shall be affixed."
This committee, feeling that the work assigned them ought to be most carefully and thoroughly done, embodying as far as possible the best thoughts of the whole Convention, invited about half of their members to meet them at the office of their chairman, Dr. Edwin P. Atlee. This was done, each one expressing the senti- ment, or announcing the purpose, which he thought ought to be given in the declaration. After a session of more than two hours, in which great unanimity pre- vailed, a sub-committee of three was appointed to pre- pare a draft of the proposed declaration, consisting of William L. Garrison, John G. Whittier and Samuel J.
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May, and to report next morning at 9 o'clock to the whole committee. As Garrison was looked up to by them as their Coryphaus, they left the writing of the document with him, and retired to meet him at 8 o'clock in the morning. At ten that night he sat down to the work, and when the committee arrived at the appointed hour they found him with shutters closed and lamps still burning, just writing the last paragraph. The declaration was read before the Convention, and care- fully considered in all its parts, and with very few changes adopted.
Samuel J. May, in speaking of the earnestness, solemnity and Christian character which marked the proceedings of that Convention throughout, said : " If there was ever a praying assembly I believe that was one."
Of the sixty-one members who signed that Declara- tion, but two are now living: John G. Whittier and Robert Purvis.
CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
WHEREAS, The Most High God " hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth," and hath commanded them to love their neigh- bors as themselves ; and
WHEREAS, Our national existence is based upon this principle, as recognized in the Declaration of Indepen- dence, "that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happi- ness ; and
WHEREAS, After the lapse of sixty years, since the faith and honor of the American people were pledged to this avowal before Almighty God and the world, nearly
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one-sixth part of the Nation are held in bondage by their fellow-citizens ; and
WHEREAS, Slavery is contrary to the principles of natural justice of our American form of government and of the Christian religion, and is destructive of the prosperity of the country, while it is endangering the peace, union and liberties of the States ; and
WHEREAS, We believe it the duty and interest of the masters immediately to emancipate their slaves, and that no scheme of expatriation, either voluntary or by ex- pulsion, can remove this great and increasing evil; and
WHEREAS, We believe that it is practicable, by ap- peals to the consciences, hearts and interests of the people, to awaken a public sentiment throughout the Nation that will be opposed to the continuance of slavery in any part of the republic, and by effecting the speedy abolition of slavery, prevent a general convul- sion ; and
WHEREAS, We believe we owe it to the oppressed, to our fellow-citizens who hold slaves, to our whole country, to posterity, and to God, to do all that is lawfully in our power to bring about the extinction of slavery ; we do hereby agree, with a prayerful reliance on the Divine aid, to form ourselves into a society, to be governed by the following constitution :
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