Читать книгу Benjamin Drew. The Refugee. Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada онлайн
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In Nova Scotia the three hundred members of the Charitable African Society of Halifax resisted the introduction of responsible government in 1846, and when a group of Montreal businessmen issued an Annexation Manifesto in October 1849, calling for union with the United States, Negroes throughout the Canadas were quick to denounce it, fearing that the Washington government would extend slavery to the provinces. (Winks, Blacks in Canada 150)
Blacks in Canada also served in other provinces and insisted on proving their utter loyalty to British North America.7 As expatriates longing to be accepted, they made a greater effort to show their commitment to Canada and their provincial laws and regulations. Thus, the idea that refugees should be given the chance to enjoy freedom started to gain currency. Visits of Quaker abolitionists allowed for a considerable publicity for resettlement in Upper Canada. Perhaps one of the most memorable of those visitors was Benjamin Lundy, responsible of enlisting William Lloyd Garrison to the cause of abolitionism. In his journey across Upper Canada to examine the life led by fugitive slaves Lundy witnessed the way in which the escapees were making a living and eventually confirmed that Blacks were truly free and equal (Winks, Blacks in Canada 158). Despite their proved loyalty and the supporting words of abolitionists, the presence of Black refugees in Canada kept on arising suspicion. There were ongoing rumours that Blacks were being transported back into northern states which, in the short run, would result in damaging the selfassurance in their settlements.8 More often than not these rumours turned out to be a reality, thus evincing that the real situation of Black people was far from being idyllic and that they were neither accepted nor respected.