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NKW YORK, Feb. 22,1872.
Dear Sir:—For most of the years I have lived, the escape of fugitives from slavery, and their efforts to baffle the human and other bloodhounds who tracked them, formed the romance of American History. That romance is now ended, and our grandchildren will hardly believe Its leading Incidents except on irresistible testimony. I rejoice that you are collecting ana present-Ing that'testimony, and heartily wish you a great success. Yours,
HORACE GltEELEY. MR. Wu. STILL.
AllBSBCRY, 10th 3d mo., 1872.
I bare looked over the advance sheets of my friend William Still's History of the " Underground Railroad," and Judge, from a hasty examination, that he has done justice to his deeply interesting subject. The story of the escaped fugitives—the perils, the terrors of pursuit and recapture—the shrewdness which baffled the human blood-hounds—the untiring zeal and devotion of the friends of the slave in the free States, are well described.
The book i* more interesting than any romance. It will be of permanent value to the historian of the country, during the anti-slavery struggle.
I cheerfully commend it to the public favor.
JOHN G. WHITTIER.
WASHINGTON, 39th Feb., 1872.
WM. STILL, ESQ., Dear Sir.—You will please accept my thanks for the opportunity given me to examine the advance sheets of your record of the struggle for freedom by the slave and his friends.
It will doubtless be a work of great interest to many of our citizens.
Very truly yours,
JNO. A. BINGHAM. Congressman from Ohio.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 29, 1872.
MB. WM. STILL, Dear Sir:—'You could not prepare a work that would afford more instruction and interest to me tban a detailed history of the operations of the so called "Underground Railroad." I am delighted at the casual examination I have been permitted to give the proof, and think thousands will rise up to call you blessed for your faithful recordof our "legalized crime," and its graphic terrible consequences set forth by you in such true pictures and plain \vords. I shall watch for the publication of your work with no ordinary interest Yours truly,
O. O. HOWARD, Brig. Gen. U.S.A., CommissionerIreedman's£urcau.
BOSTON, March 1, 1872.
DKAR MR. STILL:—I congratulate you that, after much patient research, careful preparation, and untiring labor, you have completed #our voluminous work on "The Underground Railroad." so that its publication may be looked for speedily. Though I have had no opportunity to see even a single proof-sheet, nor anv portion of the manuscript, I feel no hesitancy in saying in advance, from my personal acquaintance with you, and my knowledge of your peculiar qualifications for the great task, that I am sure your work will be found to be one of absorbing interest, worthy of the widest patronage, and historically valuable ats pertaining to (lie tremeivtous struggle for the abolition of chattel slavery in our land. Ab pliase of that struggle was so crowde.d with thrillina incidents, heroic adven'um, and se.tf-focriflr.ing efforts as the one you have undertaken to portray, and with which you were, so clnse.ly connected, to wit.- ':Tfie- Underground JtaUroad." While it will be contemplated with shame sadness, and astonishment, by posterity, it will serve vividly to illustrate the perils which everywhere confronted the fugitives from the Southern "house of bondage," and to which those who dared to give them food and shelter were a)so subjected.
Thanks be to God that " the sum of all viUanies" is blotted out, and that in all our broad land there exists "IB .ft 8}ave-master. slave-hunter, nor fugitive from
Wishing yea the largest success, I remain, Yours, with much respect,
WM. LLOYD GARRISON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29,1872,
WM. STILL, ESQ., Dear Sir:—Yon have my thanks for the privilege of glancing over the pages of the record of the Underground Railroad. I regret that the demands of public duty prevent me from reading H con-nect^ly. Thestories you tell with admirable simplicity and directness of the suffering heroically endured by such numbers of poor fugitives, will instruct and inspire many who have regarded the American slave as ft member of an inferior race.
Yours, very truly,
WM. D. KELLEY Congressman from Pennsylvania. I ___
Office "TDK PRESS." Philadelphia, Pa.
My Df-ar Sir:—I have read most of the proof sheets of your forthcoming book, entitled "THE UNDEB-OBOUND RAILROAD.'T and have Just examined the letterpress preparatory to its publication, and the accom-[ panying engravings, and I cannot refrain from stating, I that I believe it to be a consummate work of its kino. I Its chief merit, of course, consists in its extraord1 |
