Двенадцать лет рабства
Chapter 22
"ThisistocertifythatHenryB.Northup,Esquire,ofthecountyofWashington,New-York,hasproducedbeforemedueevidenceofthefreedomofSolomon,amulattoman,agedaboutforty-twoyears,fivefeet,seveninchesandsixlines,woollyhair,andchestnuteyes,whoisanativebornoftheStateofNew-York. ThatthesaidNorthup,beingaboutbringingthesaidSolomontohisnativeplace,throughthesouthernroutes,thecivilauthoritiesarerequestedtolettheaforesaidcoloredmanSolomonpassunmolested,hedemeaningwellandproperly.
"GivenundermyhandandthesealofthecityofNew-Orleansthis7thJanuary,1853.
"TH.GENOIS,Recorder."
Onthe8thwecametoLakePontchartrain,byrailroad,and,induetime,followingtheusualroute,reachedCharleston. Aftergoingonboardthesteamboat,andpayingourpassageatthiscity,Mr.Northupwascalleduponbyacustom-houseofficertoexplainwhyhehadnotregisteredhisservant. Herepliedthathehadnoservant—that,astheagentofNew-York,hewasaccompanyingafreecitizenofthatStatefromslaverytofreedom,anddidnotdesirenorintendtomakeanyregistrywhatever. Iconceivedfromhisconversationandmanner,thoughImayperhapsbeentirelymistaken,thatnogreatpainswouldbetakentoavoidwhateverdifficultytheCharlestonofficialsmightdeempropertocreate. Atlength,however,wewerepermittedtoproceed,and,passingthroughRichmond,whereIcaughtaglimpseofGoodin’spen,arrivedinWashingtonJanuary17th,1853.
