Chapter II

Origin and Growth of the Underground Road Conditions under which the Underground Road originated 17 The disappearance of slavery from the Northern states 17 Early provisions for the return of fugitive slaves 19 The fugitive slave clause in the Ordinance of 1787 20 The fugitive slave clause in the United States Constitution 20 The Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 21 The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 22 Desire for freedom among the slaves 25 Knowledge of Canada among the slaves 27 Some local factors in the origin of the underground movement 30 The development of the movement in eastern Pennsylvania, in New Jersey, and in New York 33 The development of the movement in the New England states 36 The development of the movement in the West 37 The naming of the Road 44 [xvi]CHAPTER III The Methods of the Underground Railroad Penalties for aiding fugitive slaves 47 Social contempt suffered by abolitionists 48 Espionage practised upon abolitionists 50 Rewards for the capture of fugitives and the kidnapping of abolitionists 52 Devices to secure secrecy 54 Service at night 54 Methods of communication 56 Methods of conveyance 59 Zigzag and variable routes 61 Places of concealment 62 Disguises 64 Informality of management 67 Colored and white agents 69 City vigilance committees 70 Supplies for fugitives 76 Transportation of fugitives by rail 78 Transportation of fugitives by water 81 Rescue of fugitives under arrest 83 CHAPTER IV Underground Agents, Station-Keepers, or Conductors Underground agents, station-keepers, or conductors 87 Their hospitality 87 Their principles 89 Their nationality 90 Their church connections 93 Their party affinities 99 Their local standing 101 Prosecutions of underground operators 101 Defensive League of Freedom proposed 103 Persons of prominence among underground helpers 104 [xvii]CHAPTER V Study of the Map of the Underground Railroad System Geographical extent of underground lines 113 Location and distribution of stations 114 Southern routes 116 Lines of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York 120 Routes of the New England states 128 Lines within the old Northwest Territory 134 Noteworthy features of the general map 139 Complex routes 141 Broken lines and isolated place names 141 River routes 142 Routes by rail 142 Routes by sea 144 Terminal stations 145 Lines of lake travel 147 Canadian ports 148 CHAPTER VI Abduction of Slaves from the South Aversion among underground helpers to abduction of slaves 150 Abductions by negroes living along the northern border of the slave states 151 Abductions by Canadian refugees 152 Abductions by white persons in the South 153 Abductions by white persons of the North 154 The Missouri raid of John Brown 162 John Brown's great plan 166 Abductions attempted in response to appeals 168 Devotees of abduction 178 CHAPTER VII Life of the Colored Refugees in Canada Slavery question in Canada 190 Flight of slaves to Canada 192 Refugees representative of the slave class 195 [xviii]Misinformation about Canada among slaves 197 Hardships borne by Canadian refugees 198 Efforts toward immediate relief for fugitives 199 Attitude of the Canadian government 201 Conditions favorable to their settlement in Canada 203 Sparseness of population 203 Uncleared lands 204 Encouragement of agricultural colonies among refugees 205 Dawn Settlement 205 Elgin Settlement 207 Refugees' Home Settlement 209 Alleged disadvantages of the colonies 211 Their advantages 212 Refugee settlers in Canadian towns 217 Census of Canadian refugees 220 Occupations of Canadian refugees 223 Progress made by Canadian refugees 224 Domestic life of the refugees 227 School privileges 228 Organizations for self-improvement 230 Churches 231 Rescue of friends from slavery 231 Ownership of property 232 Rights of citizenship 233 Character as citizens 233