If you choose to come back you could. I would do a very good
part by you, Toler and Cooke has none.
This touching epistle was given by the disobedient William to a member
of the Vigilant Committee, when on a visit to Canada, in 1855, and it
was thought to be of too much value to be lost. It was put away with
other valuable U.G.R.R. documents for future reference. Touching the
"rascality" of William and James and the unfortunate predicament in
which it placed the kind-hearted widow, Mrs. Louisa White, the following
editorial clipped from the wide-awake Richmond Despatch, was also highly
appreciated, and preserved as conclusive testimony to the successful
working of the U.G.R.R. in the Old Dominion. It reads thus--
"RASCALITY SOMEWHERE.--We called attention yesterday to the
advertisement of two negroes belonging to Mrs. Louisa White, by Toler &
Cook, and in the call we expressed the opinion that they were still
lurking about the city, preparatory to going off. Mr. Toler, we find, is
of a different opinion. He believes that they have already cleared
themselves--have escaped to a Free State, and we think it extremely
probable that he is in the right. They were both of them uncommonly
intelligent negroes. One of them, the one hired to Mr. White, was a
tip-top baker. He had been all about the country, and had been in the
habit of supplying the U.S. Pennsylvania with bread; Mr. W. having the
contract. In his visits for this purpose, of course, he formed
acquaintances with all sorts of sea-faring characters; and there is
every reason to believe that he has been assisted to get off in that
way, along with the other boy, hired to the Messrs. Williams. That the
two acted in concert, can admit of no doubt. The question is now to find
out how they got off. They must undoubtedly have had white men in the
secret. Have we then a nest of Abolition scoundrels among us? There
ought to be a law to put a police officer on board every vessel as soon
as she lands at the wharf. There is one, we believe for inspecting
vessels before they leave. If there is not there ought to be one.
"These negroes belong to a widow lady and constitute all the property
she has on earth. They have both been raised with the greatest
indulgence. Had it been otherwise, they would never have had an
opportunity to escape, as they have done. Their flight has left her
penniless. Either of them would readily have sold for $1200; and Mr.
Toler advised their owner to sell them at the commencement of the year,
probably anticipating the very thing that has happened. She refused to
do so, because she felt too much attachment to them. They have made a
fine return, truly."
No comment is necessary on the above editorial except simply to express
the hope that the editor and his friends who seemed to be utterly
befogged as to how these "uncommonly intelligent negroes" made their
escape, will find the problem satisfactorily solved in this book.
However, in order to do even-handed justice to all concerned, it seems
but proper that William and James should be heard from, and hence a
letter from each is here appended for what they are worth. True they
were intended only for private use, but since the "True light" (Freedom)
has come, all things may be made manifest.