* * * * *
At the closing meeting of the PENNSYLVANIA ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, held in
Philadelphia, May 5, 1870, the following was unanimously passed:
Whereas, The position of WILLIAM STILL in the Vigilance Committee
connected with the "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD," as its Corresponding
Secretary, and Chairman of its Active Sub-Committee, gave him peculiar
facilities for collecting interesting facts pertaining to this branch of
the anti-slavery service; therefore,
_Resolved_, That the PENNSYLVANIA ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY requests him to
compile and publish his personal reminiscences and experiences relating
to the "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD."
* * * * *
HON. JOHN W. FORNEY, in a letter to the Washington _Sunday Chronicle_,
said:
"Slavery and its mysterious inner life has never yet been described.
When it is, Reality will surpass Fiction. Uncle Tom's Cabin will be
rebuilt and newly garnitured. A book, detailing the operations of the
'UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,' is soon to be published in Philadelphia, by WM.
STILL, Esq., an intelligent colored gentleman, which, composed entirely
of facts, will supply material for indefinite dramas and romances. It
will disclose a record of unparalleled courage and suffering for the
right." * * * * *
And again, in a letter to the same paper, Mr. Forney says:
* * * * "A coincidence even more romantic is soon to be revealed in
the pages of the _remarkable book_ of Wm. Still, of Philadelphia,
entitled 'THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,' referred to in my last. Mr. Still
kept a careful memorandum of the sufferings and trials of his race
during the existence of the 'Fugitive Slave Law,' in the belief that
they would be instructive to his posterity, rather than from any hope of
the overthrow of the revolting system of human servitude * * * he
resolved to spread before the world this _unprecedented_ experience.
When his book appears, it will accomplish more than one object.
Interesting to the literary world, it will undoubtedly facilitate the
reunion of other colored families long divided, long sought for, and
perhaps to this day strangers to each other. * * * * The volume
containing this and other equally romantic yet truthful stories will
soon be out, and, _my word for it, no book of the times will be more
eagerly read or more profitably remembered._"
* * * * *
The San Francisco _Elevator_ says:
* * * * "Mr. Still is one of the pioneers of 'THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD' in Philadelphia, where he still resides. He has aided more
slaves to escape than any other man, Bishop Lougan, of Syracuse,
_perhaps_ excepted. * * * * We hope his book will have a wide
circulation, as it will be a valuable addition to the history of the
anti-slavery struggle _such as no other man can write._"
* * * * *
Having been, during many years, associated with WILLIAM STILL, in
laboring for the abolition of American slavery, we heartily bear our
testimony to his abundant opportunities for acquiring information
relative to the subject of this book; and to his vigilance and fidelity
in all the departments of anti-slavery work in which he was engaged, and
especially in that department usually called "THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD."
We gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our confidence
in his ability to present to the public an authentic and interesting
history of this enterprise.
_Prominent Members of the Anti-Slavery Society._