Hiram Wilson to Frederick Douglass, July 10, 1856

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

LETTER FROM HIRAM WILSON.

ST. CATHARINES, C. W., July 10th, 1856.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.: DEAR SIR:—I take the liberty to address to you, and through you to the numerous readers of your excellent paper, a few lines, for the alone purpose of informing them as to the true position of things in this place and vicinity. We have in St. Catharines, and its immediate neighborhood, an interesting portion of the colored population of the Province. There is much of industry, energy and enterprise among them, and yet there is room for improvement. Strangers are frequently coming over from Slavery to increase the number of the free, and at the same time to bear their testimony against that iniquitous system which John Wesley very properly pronounced "the sum of all villainies." It would doubtless interest many on your side of the transmutation waters of Niagara, to have detailed accounts of them in respect to their adventures, perils, conflicts and sufferings at the South, and on their way to Canada; also of their jubilant experience of the dawn of Freedom, under the resistless fiat of the Almighty, and the mild and benignant sway of Queen Victoria's sceptre. In their deliverance from cruel thraldom, how admirably is the Divine word of promise verified: "For the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the needy now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him." We have frequent opportunities to minister comfort and consolation to these self-emancipated strangers, which we improve with a good relish. St. Catharines has become a very important halting place for them as they enter "the promised land." During 1855, we were called upon by no less than 120, who were promptly cared for, and assisted so far as our means would allow. The present year thus far has also witnessed a large influx of this class. The Underground Railroad appears to be in good working order. It has upon its track no very serious obstruction by day, and propitious smiles of Heaven attend the nightly trains. May God speed the time when "every yoke shall be broken and the oppressed go free."

I will now give you a short chapter on a different theme. It is a part of my business here to do good to the sailors on the Welland Canal. This Canal is a stupendous artery of commerce, connecting Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence with the great inland seas of the North West, and is rapidly increasing in interest and importance. During the last month, 642 vessels passed St. Catharines, where a careful record of them is kept. This number being 37 more than were locked through during the corresponding month of last year, marks a considerable increase. At this rate the agregate of lockages for the season—say seven months— would be 4,494. The number of lockages for

1855 was 3,800. Of the 642 that passed through in June, 59 were propellers, and 40 were brigs, the balance mostly schooners varying from 200 to 400 tons measurement. Allowing the officers and crew of each vessel to average 10 persons, then you have a view of 6,420 transient individuals, passing in the brief period of one month. To these we might add a considerable number of lock-tenders, and quite a multitude of men and lads upon the tow path, who drive the teams—the vessels, all except propellers, being towed by horses. We might increase the list of transient ones still more, by adding the emigrants who are frequently found on the propellers, seeking homes in the West.

There is perhaps no place on the American continent, where the facilities for doing good to sailors is greater than on this Canal. Were the Divine Redeemer again on earth, seeking the good of the sea faring, how would he delight to walk up and down this Canal, preaching repentance and proclaiming the great salvation to the moving throng. As the vessels are generally detained more or less at the locks, which are kept closed on the Sabbath, the sailors have leisure for reading and for brief conversations, hence we furnish them, so far as in our power, with Religious, Peace, Temperance and Anti-Slavery Tracts. It is our aim to do all we can to enlighten and favorably influence this large and important class.

Our manner is to make frequent walks of usefulness along this part of the Canal, between Port Dalhousie, on Lake Ontario, and the mountain height of Thorold, with plentiful supplies of the silent messengers, of light and peace and love, for distribution, and to speak words of kindness about Jesus and the great salvation, as proffered through his mediation and merits, and to hold meetings occasionally on board of vessels. We frequently meet with colored persons, in this department of our missionary labors, who find employment on vessels. Ours is a purely benevolent, unsectarian, enterprise which commends itself to intelligent Christians, of every name. There is an imperious demand for the erection of a Bethel about half way between this place and Thorold, at an eligible point of great interest near the crossing of the Great Western Railroad. To facilitate and encourage the work, land proprietors have freely offered to grant land to build upon. This will, doubtless, ere long be undertaken as a union effort of Christians.

Having our loins begirt with truth, our lamp trimmed and burning and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, we stand ready to do all that can be done in each department of philanthropy above noticed. In

the prosecution of this work, our means of support are not so ample as to exempt us from working hard with our hands nearly half of the time, and frequently by moon and star light. I have to say in conclusion that we have not the privilege of laboring in the Lord's vineyard as servants of servants, without being subject to gross misrepresentation and the vilest of calumny, from certain colored persons in Canada, who, of all others, should be grateful to God and to self sacrificing benefactors.

Truly and faithfully yours,

HIRAM WILSON.