The Colored National Convention and Mary Ann Shadd Cary

The Colored National Convention and Mary Ann Shadd Cary

It describes in detail the debate on whether or not to admit Cary into the Convention.

Newspaper article

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THE LIBERATOR. -------[two horizontal lines]------------ 'THE COLORED PEOPLE IN CANADA--DO THEY NEED HELP?' Mr. Garrison: Garrison</smallcaps> GARRISON : The incomparable letter of Rev. C. C. Foote has been given to your readers ; but, as truth is mighty and will prevail, there is no reason to fear that the real friends of the colored race will be slow to award their due to those 'tall beggars,' who live by misrepresenting the condition of fugitives, after this matter shall have been thoroughly sifted, and the glaring falsehoods and sophistry resorted to, to sustain a rotten institution, fairly set forth. I can claim no consideration from you on the score of personal acquaintance, whatever ; but as the authorized representative of a large body of fugitives, some of whose names I herewith send, I trust that you will open your columns, that something may be said in answer to the letter referred to. The article in THE LIBERATOR of November 22, 1852, is truthful in every particular enumerated, and, moreover, Rev. C. C. Foote's letter does not disprove anything therein contained ; but, with wonderful ingenuity, a strange medley of false statements, curious comparisons, stale recommendations of the Fugitives' Home by gentlemen who have never examined the scheme in working order, cant, and Uncle Tom's Cabin, is made to pass muster before an intelligent community. Did Mr. Foote learn of the 'small faction of colored persons in and about Windsor, (most of whom have never been slaves,') from a personal observation, or from the Voice of the Fugitive? ? The entire statement is false, as the author of it knows, if he knows anything of the population and state of things here ; but as he speaks without qualification, he must take the award the public will give him. It would be a difficult matter to find twenty families originally free in this township ; and at the meeting here, not five were represented ; but there was a crowd of fugitives. The assertion that the resolutions express the voice of nine-tenths, could not be contradicted by a single meeting ; if it could, will Rev. Mr. Foote please tell at what time it was contradicted, and where the meeting was held? Since the formation of the Refugees' Home Society, there has not been a meeting held in its favor in Canada.

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How does Mr. Foote know that the "new comers" are not, by their own industry, enabled in a short time to help others? Does he know any thing of the value of labor in this country, and the ease with which it may be had? If he is [unclear]noquintel[/unclear] with the facts, then his attempt to make the truth appear ridiculous, is ridiculous enough, surely. It is well known here that the emigration of fugitives by families is the exception, not the rule, and, as a consequence, there are more persons able to work. But I will give authority on this point that, may be, Rev. C. C. Foote will not despise. "Work can be had by all who are willing to work, and the lazy deserve not encouragement in their laziness."- "Glo'e" of Toronto "I attended a large meeting, *** and was pleased to see and hear so many ministers and people express themselves very decidedly in detestation of the (beginning) scheme. At a public meeting in New Canaan, there was a unanimous voice in condemnation of the whole system." -Rev. G. Thompson. I have travelled from New York to Florida, and I have seen no land where I can get a living as well as here. We cannot hope to have union among us here, until this begging system is stopped. It causes more ill-feeling and division than anything else. Every time you er, you curse God, who has given you this good land. If you will do yourselves any good, buy your own land, settle down, and make homes for yourselves." -Reportedly Rev. G. Thompson. Does it look reasonable that this speech would have been made, if these things cannot be done? Who helped that flourishing community of refugees? They distinctly say this begging has been "a curse instead of a blessing." "Numbers of men have got rich on it, and above work." The beggars did not help them- they were a curse; then they must have helped themselves, assisted at first by friends around them, and at times, too, when it was more difficult for fugitives to get employment than now. Fugitives, at one time, were known to go back to slavery from this country, because it was found difficult to get either shelter or or work, at first; but who has heard of a recent case of the kind? At this season, as many passengers of the underground railroad as can come, can get, without difficulty, from seven shillings to one dollar a day, or from ten to fourteen dollars per month, along the entire frontier.

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'Let us compare the following settlements with the whites: : Colchester, New Canaan, Malden, Gosfield, Sandwich, Queen's Bush, Dawn, Chatham, and Raleigh, which is called the Elgin settlement. In all of the above, we know that our people are owners and tillers of the soil, many of whom possess from ten to two hundred acres of land, and whose money goes freely, every year, for the support of government, &c. In addition to this they are supporting schools, churches, and temperance societies, quite as numerously as our decent white brethren; ; and nine-tenths of these persons are refugees from Southern slavery, who commenced here in the forest, without a cent of capital with which to help themselves'--H. – - H. Bibb's review of the Larwill letter, Feb. 26, 1851. In commenting on the proceedings of a meeting held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Voice of May 20, 1852, says among other things-- 'The ‘The man (Wm. Luaney [unclear][/unclear]) has recently taken an agency under the latter, to help the poor, starving fugitives in Canada. * * * * * * All of the enlightened portion of the colored population of Canada West have uttered their protest against it, [the begging.] No people ever was or will be respected or elevated, who do not respect themselves more than to become public beggars, or who will even consent to live on the charities of others, sooner than work for their living. * * * In cautioning the public against these men, we had occasion to say, that "there was no suffering among this people," or that all who would work could make a good living, and we now re-affirm the same thing.'-- – H. Bibb. But to the inquiry, 'Does slavery better qualify people for successful labor than freedom?' the fugitives answer: : No, sir ; therefore in refusing your homes they prefer British Liberty to a degrading serfdom under the Refugees' Home Society.' The comparison of the sufferers by fire in Montreal, and the allusion to hundreds of white families, seem like straining a point ; the cause is in a sad plight that requires such a far-fetched effort. Mr. Bibb says-- – But these beggars, who, , like drowning men are ever ready to catch at straws, seized upon this part of the sentence, [insertion][ [referring to the absence of suffering,] and put a false construction upon it. Show us a community where there is a very considerable number of inhabitants, be they white or black, in this Province or the States, and we will show some of the number who have not all the necessaries of life, and yet they have generally too much self-respect to send out beggars.' Then may the destitute and starving of the large cities of the United States not to be deprived of comforts, or the cause of the Southern slave hindered, by the unnecessary and out unrighteous diversion of thousands of dollars into the coffers of the Refugees' Home Society, as the foregoing testimony of its Corresponding secretary conclusively shows they would be. Singular people are these begging 'brothers of ours, surely'! Of the appeals made by almoners it may [unclear][/unclear] be [/unclear] said that the 'doctors do not agree,' when at home, as to their necessity. The honesty of nearly every prominent almoner in Canada has been questioned by Henry Bibb and wife, when talking of them, among whom are Revd's Hiram Wilson, Wm. P. Newman, Isaac J. Rice, E. E. Kirkland, D. Hodgkiss, and a host of smaller names I do not remember. Mrs. Bibb gave one dollar for a copy of I. J. Rice's miserable circular, [/unclear], in order that what she designated his 'lies about destitution' might be exposed. That children have been sent a long distance for books and clothes, there is no doubt; persons who have lived in the country twenty years – years--owners of well-cultivated farms, have asked for clothes after having heard they were here, and should they send their little ones, the children would find the journey more comfortable and less dangerous, if made through the forest then on an open road. However, persons who do know of our forests doubt this new version of 'The

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Babes in the Woods'. Had Mr. Foote looked at the November letter carefully, he would see, that quotations he makes do not agree with the original exactly; but he can have the full benefit of his construction, for fugitives think that it is not that many almoners have not deserved the penitentiary, that they have not been sent there. The Rev. gentleman's testimony as to the money sent, and also to the poor fugitive boxes being sent away to this cold country in their own care only, in matter of especial thanks. He cannot find fugitives in this section of Canada, who ever got any of the money sent. Mr. Bibb says to them, he never received 'a cent' for them from the States; ; and of the boxes, our merchants say, that as the boxes come directed to him, they keep them in their storehouses until called for by him, except those he brings over. It is true that boxes consigned to almoners have been stopped by other almoners, but the result has been, , they ' 'got by the ears;' [/unclear];' hence quarrels among the missionaries. It [unclear]does [unclear][/unclear] not true, however, that no one is at fault for ' 'the waste.' ' I will tell the story out now, and the Rev. C. C. Foote may disprove it, if he can. The mouldy clothes in this region are those kept in Henry Bibb's stable, consisting of new shirts, good coats, new caps, and other good and bad articles, for men, women, and children. The chickens have been roosted on them, , his horses have walked on them, and some are kept there wet and frozen in boxes. Is no one at fault? Mr. Bibb says the friends give him full power to give or not. What greater power has a Commissioner? Should not he think a man applying is not a fugitive, though he should be destitute, --should should the fugitive say he drinks on his arrival, he need not give. As some desti-tute persons have the misfortune to have been born free, and as not one fugitive in twenty knew any thing about a Temperance Society before starting North, and as there is no inconvenience in having boxes of valuable clothing, etc., come-but, - but, over all, as almoners of that class are irresponsible, the lower animals may use them, but 'poor humanity' may not. Mr. Thomas Henning, of Toronto, intimates, in a published letter, that ' persons of whatever complexion' ' need aid at times. That does not mean white and black, and the intermediate shades of complexion, by our almoners ; does it mean horses and chickens?

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If the Home Society cannot furnish homes faster than the people receive them, or can be persuaded into settling on their lots, the more need that Mr. Foote and the other gentlemen begging for it should stop their operations. I visited the Refugees' Home recently; ; I know who are settled thereon--how many there are, and what they think of it. From them I learned that the Constitution of the Society had been read to them by 'quite respectable people in Detroit' as it is not—or rather, was not read to them as it is. Had they understood it, the few men of good character connected with it would have not have meddled with it. Where are the points of comparison between this abortion and Mr. King's settlement of respectable persons, promiscuously [/unclear] free and slaves? ? Would the benevolent believe, that of the twenty-one months of the Society has had authorised agents out on its mission, but seven families have settled on the land; and so eager are they to get lots, that the Voice of the Fugitive has actually advertised lots as ready, although but twelve persons have been [unclear]cojoled[/unclear] into taking lots at all; and some of these have declared they will give them up! ! I repeat, that at the public meeting which authorized this reply, fugitives from off the ' 'Home' ' and from different parts of the county were present, all of whom expressed themselves as be opposed to the ' 'Home,' and as relieved from all doubts as to the evils inseparable from this begging, when such a resort may be had to further that object by such a resort may be had to further that object by such means as the letter under consideration. The most of those whose names appear below are but a small portion of those who attended the meeting, , but who left before the proposition to take names was made. Very respectfully, sir, MARY A. SHADD. WINDSOR, C. W., Jan. 12, 1858.

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A MASS 1858, a mass meeting of the colored people was held in this place (Windsor, C. W.) on the evening of January 11th, 1858, to express more fully their views of the Refugees' Home, and to consider, especially, the recent letter of Rev. C. C. Foote, an agent of the Refugees' Home Society. Samuel Green, of the Refugees' Home, was appointed Chairman, George Williams, Assistant, and Wm. P. Francis, Secretary. The object of the meeting having been stated, [insertion][/insertion] Jacob Jones, Coleman Freeman, Samuel Green, George Wilson of the R. H. S., Robinson Bush, Rev. Talcot of Amherstburg, D. Johnson, and others, expressed themselves, forcibly against the Refugees' Home Society, and Mr. Foote's letter, and the following resolution and motions were carried without without a dissenting voice:- Wherens, the Rev. C. C. Foote, an agent of the Refugees' Home Society, has, in taking exception to an authorized statement made by persons here, uttered foul slanders against us, by representing us as in leading-strings to Henry Bibb and wife, and as eager to settle on the Refugees' Home; therefore, Resolved, That as we have heretofore done, we will use all honest means to prevent our brethren from being deceived in regard to the Home, and ask that the friends of our 'race' will discountenance Mr. Foote's operations, because not tending to our benefit, or wanted by us. Voted, That Mary A. Shadd reply to said letter in behalf of the people. Voted, That we hold meetings often, and otherwise be vigilant to prevent the success of the species of oppression shadowed forth in the Refugees' Home Scheme. The most of the following names were then given as evidence that there was no 'clique' of free persons; and as it was a late stage of the meeting, many having retired, it was

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Voted, to increase the list hereafter. Samuel Green, R. M. S. George Williams, John Garner, Thomas Dolston, Leonard Strander, Robin Bush, Wm. Nelson, David Johnson, Thomas Jones, Henry Blackstone, Jacob Jones, free, Ralph Carter, Delilah Jones, Coleman Freeman, free, Emeline Jones, Oliver Thurston, Amelia Gassway, Richard Bush, J.T. Jackson, James Tyner, James Watson, Thornton Smith, Charles Elliott, Peter Stokes, Amistend Marshall, John Hogan, Henry Keyes, Wm. Keyes, Thomas Brown, Louis Ford, Peter Points, Elisha Robinson, John de Baptist, Anselm P. Wilburn Wm. Willis, John Garner, Leonard Strander Wm. Nelson, Thomas Jones, Jacob Jones, free Delilah Jones, Emeline Jones, Amelia Grassy, J.T. T. Jackson, James Watson, Charles Elliot, Amistend Marshall, Lucy Ward, Wm. Walker, Martha Smith, Thomas Brown, John Woodson, Louis Ferd, Jesse Rucker, Peter Poynts, Peter Looke, Elisha Robinson, Wyley Reynolds, free, John de Baptist, Mr. Newman. SAMUEL P. Willhurn. Samual Green, Chairman, George WILLIAMS, Assistant Ch^rm. Wm. P. Franson, Sec'y.

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