Charleston (SC) Mercury, "Runaway Negros," February 15, 1858

RUNAWAY NEGROS. - The Albany correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce writes: "I saw the other day six runaway negoes marched through the streets under the protection of Stephen Myers, a blackman, who claims to be the President of the "Underground Railroad," but who is really the agent of an abolition organization which occupies itself in running off darkies from New York to Canada.  These six colored individuals were paraded through our streets in a dusk procession, and after visiting the office of a distinguished Anti-slavery gentleman, who at present holds a political appointment of responsibility in New York, were conducted to the sole door of a leading Freesoil Journal.  Here, I doubt not, they were hospitably entertained.  Persons lately returned from Canada represent that the back settlements there are rapidly increasing and fast becoming positive nuisances.  One half, at least of these runaways expect to be supported by the charity of the whites, and are forming the nucleus of a race of black paupers, whose situation is rendered doubly uncomfortably by the rigors of an unaccustomed climate.  Worse than this - these settlements are becoming wretchedly demoralized and the result is exhibited in a race of low mongrels given over to sloth, drunkenness and debauchery.  How long our sensible Canadian friends will continue to allow this infusion of black blood remains to be seen, but I cannot believe that they are desirous of surrounding themselves with a population, which like some of the confused races of South America, have all the vices of the whites, and many of the virtues of the blacks."