r to
hold their peace or cease their warfare, until _immediate_ and
_unconditional_ emancipation was achieved.

On the other hand, during this same period, it is not venturing too much
to assert that the slave power was more oppressive than ever before;
slave enactments more cruel; the spirit of Slavery more intolerant; the
fetters more tightly drawn; perilous escapes more frequent; slave
captures and slave hunts more appalling; in short, the enslavers of the
race had never before so defiantly assumed that negro Slavery was
sanctioned by the Divine laws of God.

Thus, while these opposing agencies were hotly contesting the rights of
man, James Miller McKim, as one of the earliest, most faithful, and
ablest abolitionists in Pennsylvania, occupied a position of influence,
labor and usefulness, scarcely second to Mr. Garrison.

For at least fourteen of the eventful years referred to, it was the
writer's privilege to occupy a position in the Anti-slavery office with
Mr. McKim, and the best opportunity was thus afforded to observe him
under all circumstances while battling for freedom. As a helper and
friend of the fleeing bondman, in numberless instances the writer has
marked well his kind and benevolent spirit, before and after the
formation of the late Vigilance Committee. At all times when the funds
were inadequate, his aid could be counted upon for sure relief. He never
failed the fugitive in the hour of need. Whether on the Underground Rail
Road bound for Canada, or before a United States commissioner trying a
fugitive case, the slave found no truer friend than Mr. McKim.

If the records of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition
of Slavery, and the Pennsylvania Anti-slavery Society were examined and
written out by a pen, as competent as Mr. McKim's, two or three volumes
of a most thrilling, interesting, and valuable character could be
furnished to posterity. But as his labors have been portrayed for these
pages, by a hand much more competent than the writer's, it only remains
to present it as follows:

The subject of this sketch was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, November
14, 1810, the oldest but one of eight children. On his father's side, he
was of Scotch Irish, on his mother's (Miller) of German descent. He
graduated at Dickinson College in 1828; and entering upon the study of
medicine, attended one or more courses of lectures in the University of
Pennsylvania. Before he was ready to take his deg