Twelve Years a Slave

came and appeared Henry B. Northup, of the county of Washington, State of New-York, who hath declared that by virtue of a commission to him as agent of the State of New-York, given and granted by his excellency, Washington Hunt, Governor of the said State of New-York, bearing date the 23d day of November, 1852, authorizing and empowering him, the said Northup, to pursue and recover from slavery a free man of color, called Solomon Northup, who is a free citizen of the State of New-York, and who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, in the State of Louisiana, and now in the possession of Edwin Epps, of the State of Louisiana, of the Parish of Avoyelles; he, the said agent, hereto signing, acknowledges that the said Edwin has this day given and surrendered to him as such agent, the said Solomon Northup, free man of color, as aforesaid, in order that he be restored to his freedom, and carried back to the said State of New-York, pursuant to said commission, the said Edwin Epps being satisfied from the proofs produced by said agent, that the said Solomon Northup is entitled to his freedom. The parties consenting that a certified copy of said power of attorney be annexed to this act.
    Done and signed at Marksville, parish of Avoyelles, this fourth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the presence of the undersigned, legal and competent witnesses, who have also hereto signed.
    Henry B. Northup. Edwin Epps. Ade. Barbin, Recorder.

    Witnesses:
    H. Taylor,
    John P. Waddill.

    State of Louisiana:
    Parish of Avoyelles.

    I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the original on file and of record in my office. Given under my hand and seal of office as Recorder [L. S.] in and for the parish of Avoyelles, this 4th day of January, A. D. 1853.
    Ade. Barbin, Recorder.

CHAPTER XXII

    Arrival in New Orleans — Glimpse of Freeman — Genois, the Recorder — His Description of Solomon — Reach Charleston — Interrupted by Custom House Officers — Pass Through Richmond — Arrival in Washington — Burch Arrested — Shekels and Thorn — Their Testimony — Burch Acquitted — Arrest of Solomon — Burch Withdraws the Complaint — The Higher Tribunal — Departure from Washington — Arrival at Sandy Hill — Old Friends and Familiar Scenes — Proceed to Glens Falls — Meeting with Anne, Margaret, and Elizabeth — Solomon Northup Staunton — Incidents — Conclusion.

    As the steamer glided on its way towards New-Orleans, perhaps I was not happy — perhaps there was no difficulty in restraining myself from dancing round the deck — perhaps I did not feel grateful to the man who had come so many hundred miles for me — perhaps I did not light his pipe, and wait and watch his word, and run at his slightest bidding. If I didn’t — well, no matter.
    We tarried at New-Orleans two days. During that time I pointed out the locality of Freeman’s slave pen, and the room in which Ford purchased me. We happened to meet Theophilus in the street, but I did not think it worth while to renew acquaintance with him. From respectable citizens we ascertained he had become a low, miserable rowdy — a broken-down, disreputable man.
    We also visited the recorder, Mr. Genois, to whom Senator Soule’s letter was directed, and found him a man well deserving the wide and honorable reputation that he bears. He very generously furnished us with a sort of legal pass, over his signature and seal of office, and as it contains the recorder’s description of my personal appearance, it may not be amiss to insert it here. The following is a copy:

    “State of Louisiana — City of New-Orleans:
    Recorder’s Office, Second District.

    “To all to whom these presents shall come: —
    “This is to certify that Henry B. Northup, Esquire, of the county of Washington, New-York, has produced before me due evidence of the freedom of Solomon, a mulatto man, aged about forty-two years, five feet, seven inches and six lines, woolly hair, and chestnut eyes, who is a native born of the State of New-York. That the said Northup, being about bringing the said Solomon to his native place, through the southern routes, the civil authorities are requested to let the aforesaid colored man Solomon pass unmolested, he demeaning well and properly.
    “Given under my hand and the seal of the city of New-Orleans this 7th January, 1853.
    [ L. S. ] “Th. Genois, Recorder.”
    On the 8th we came to Lake Pontchartrain, by