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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> > know that some northern slaves were sold back into the
> south and some were freed, but that was just before or near the time
> of the Civil War.

Unlikely since by the 1850's most Southern states had laws that strictly 
prohibitied bringing more slaves into the state.  

> Perhaps, it happened on a broader scale at an

> earlier time when more northerners owned slaves.


Yes, the north divested itself of most of its slave property between 1790 and 
1820's or 1830's  and, as you might guess, the reasons were far more economic 
than philantropic.

> 
> >I thought, though I could be wrong, that quite a few of the slaves who
> escaped via the Underground Railroad ended up in Canada.


Again, for a very good reason.  Before 1840, northern slave holders by and 
large sold their "property" and the best market was Dutch slave traders 
selling 
the slaves in Brazil and Central America for sugar plantations.   The market 
was drying up by the mid 1800's and many of the remaining slaves were 
manumitted out of economic necessity.  A great number of Northern states then 
passes 
laws that made it illegal for freed blacks to remain in the state.  By the 
time 
of the Underground Railroad a black person fleeing the South would have been 
arrested in Mass, Penn. or NY etc.

Canada was the only option.


> >I guess I'm wondering if you have any numbers.
> 

I do, I'll post them later.


James   </HTML>