The Free States?

Jim's Photo Of Underground Railroad Map

The number of refugee...[blacks] living in Canada, at the outbreak of the slaveholder's rebellion, was not far short of forty thousand. Probably more than half of them were manumitted slaves who, in consequence of unjust laws, were compelled to leave the States where they were manumitted. Many...settled in the Northern States, but the greater portion of them came to Canada.

In the words of Charles Sumner : " The Free States became little better than a huge outlying plantation, quivering under the lash of the overseer...". [Source]

Also see Margaret's Choice for one family's tragic turn of events.

 Another Underground Railroad story of a person with whom I have family ties.