So I ask you to send the fugitives to Canada. I don’t know
much of this Province but I beleaves that there is Rome enough for the colored
and whites of the United States. We wants farmers mechanic men of all
qualification &c, if they are not made we will make them, if we cannot make
the old, we will make our children.
Now concerning the city toronto this city is Beautiful and
Prosperous Levele city. Great many wooden codages more than what should be but
I am in hopes there will be more of the Brick and Stonn. But I am not done
about your Republicanism. Our masters have told us that there was no living in
Canada for a Negro but if it may Please your gentlemanship to publish these
facts that we are here able to earn our breed and money enough to make us
comftable. But I say give me freedom, and the United States may have all her
money and her Luxtures, yeas give Liberty or Death. I'm in America, but not
under Such a Government that I cannot express myself, speak, think or write So
as I am able, and if my master had allowed me to have an education I would make
them American Slave-holders feel me, Yeas I would make them tremble when I
spoke, and when I take my Pen in hand their knees smote together. My Dear Sir
suppose I was an educated man. I could write you something worth reading, but
you know we poor fugitives whom has just come over from the South are not able
to write much on no subject whatever, but I hope by the aid of my God I will
try to use my midnight lamp, untel I can have some influence upon the American
Slavery. If some one would say to me, that they would give my wife bread untel
I could be Educated I would stoop my trade this day and take up my books.
But a crisis is approaching when essential requisite to the
American Slaveholders when blood Death or Liberty will be required at their
hands. I think our people have depened too long and too much on false
legislator let us now look for ourselves. It is true that England however the
Englishman is our best friend but we as men ought not to depened upon her
Remonstrace with the Americans because she loves her commercial trade as any
Nations do. But I must say, while we look up and acknowledge the Power
greatness and honor of old England, and believe that while we sit beneath the
Silken folds of her flag of Perfect Liberty, we are secure, beyond the reach of
the aggressions of the Blood hounds and free from the despotism that would wrap
around our limbs by the damable Slaveholder. Yet we would not like spoiled
childeren depend upon her, but upon ourselves and as one means of strengthening
ourselves, we should agitate the emigration to Canada. I here send you a
paragraph which I clipted from the weekly Glob. I hope you will publish so that
Mr. Williamson may know that men are not chattel here but reather they are men
and if he wants his chattle let him come hereafter it or his thing. I wants you
to let the whole United States know we are satisfied here because I have seen
more Pleasure since I came here then I saw in the U. S. the 24 years that I
served my master. Come Poor distress men women and come to Canada where colored
men are free. Oh how sweet the word do sound to me yeas when I contemplate of
these things, my very flesh creeps my heart thrub when I think of my beloved
friends whom I left in that cursid hole. Oh my God what can I do for them or
shall I do for them. Lord help them. Suffer them to be no longer depressed
beneath the Ernst Creation but may they be looked upon as men made of the Bone
and Blood as the Anglo-Americans. May God in his mercy Give Liberty to all this
world. I must close as it am late hour at night. I Remain your friend in the
cause of Liberty and humanity,
JOHN H. HILL, a
fugitive.
If you know any one who would give me an education write and
let me know for I am in want of it very much.
Your with Respect,
J. H. H.
SOURCES: William Still, The Underground
Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &c., p. 193-4
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