Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/177

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

157

in Canada, they evidently show the public in general are in favour of such emigration, which is in direct opposition to the false representations often made,—that they don't wish any more such people, &c. Canada needs and must eventually have a sufficient number of laborers, such as the colored people, to develop its resources, and bring the land into cultivation, by which its value will be enhanced, both to the interest of the owner and the government. Taxes assessed for governmental purposes are in proportion to the value of the property thus taxed, consequently the higher the state of cultivation into which this land is brought, the more profitable it is to the government. Therefore every possible encouragement is held out by government for emigration—Fugitive Slaves, as well as others. It is to be hoped these evidences are quite sufficient to satisfy those who have been misled on this point. If you prevent the Slave, flying from his chains and handcuffs, entering Canada, where he is free, under the magna charta of the British constitution, which knows no man by the colour of his skin, I ask for the Slave, and in the name of humanity, where will you allow him to go? What shall we do with the 1,200 coming northward every year, seeking freedom if haply they may find it? Will you be so cruel, so fiend-like, to send them back into perpetual bondage?