ir way from Canada to Detroit, a real land of the
free; so many, indeed, that we find that a company of Negro militia
was formed in Detroit in 1806 to assist in the general defence of the
territory, composed entirely of escaped slaves from Canada.[23]

Almost from the passing of the Canada Act, however, runaway Negroes
began to come to Upper Canada, fleeing from slavery; this influx
increased and never ceased until the American Civil War gave its death
blow to slavery in the United States. Hundreds of blacks thus obtained
their freedom, some having been brought by their masters near to the
international boundary and then clandestinely or by force effecting a
passage; some coming from far to the South, guided by the North Star;
many assisted by friends more or less secretly. The Underground
Railroad was kept constantly running.[24] These refugees joined
settlements with other people of color freeborn or freed in the
western part of the Peninsula, in the counties of Essex and Kent and
elsewhere.[25] Some of them settled in other parts of the province,
either together or more usually sporadically.

At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War there were many thousands
of black refugees in the province.[26] More than half of these were
manumitted slaves who in consequence of unjust laws had been forced to
leave their State. While some of such freedmen went to the Northern
States, most came to Canada, some returning to the Northern States.
The Negro refugees were superior to most of their race, for none but
those with more than ordinary qualities could reach Canada.[27]

The masters of runaway slaves did not always remain quiet when their
slave reached this province. Sometimes they followed him in an attempt
to take him back. There are said to have been a few instances of
actual kidnapping, a few of attempted kidnapping.[28] There have been
cases in which criminal charges have been laid against escaped slaves,
and their extradition sought, ostensibly to answer the criminal
charges. It has always been the theory in this province that the
governor has the power independently of statute or treaty to deliver
up alien refugees charged with crime.[29] To make it clear, the
Parliament of Upper Canada in 1833 passed an Act for the apprehension
of fugitive offenders from foreign countries, and delivering them up
to justice.[30] This provides that on the requisition of the executive
of any foreign country the governor of the provinc