Дванадцять років рабства

           Iftheydon’tknowasmuchastheirmasters,whosefaultisit? Theyarenotallowedtoknowanything. Youhavebooksandpapers,andcangowhereyouplease,andgatherintelligenceinathousandways. Butyourslaveshavenoprivileges. You’dwhiponeofthemifcaughtreadingabook. Theyareheldinbondage,generationaftergeneration,deprivedofmentalimprovement,andwhocanexpectthemtopossessmuchknowledge? Iftheyarenotbroughtdowntoalevelwiththebrutecreation,youslaveholderswillneverbeblamedforit. Iftheyarebaboons,orstandnohigherinthescaleofintelligencethansuchanimals,youandmenlikeyouwillhavetoanswerforit. There’sasin,afearfulsin,restingonthisnation,thatwillnotgounpunishedforever. Therewillbeareckoningyet—yes,Epps,there’sadaycomingthatwillburnasanoven. Itmaybesooneroritmaybelater,butit’sacomingassureastheLordisjust." 

           "IfyoulivedupamongtheYankeesinNew-England,"saidEpps,"Iexpectyou’dbeoneofthemcursedfanaticsthatknowmorethantheconstitution,andgoaboutpeddlingclocksandcoaxingniggerstorunaway." 

           "IfIwasinNew-England,"returnedBass,"IwouldbejustwhatIamhere. IwouldsaythatSlaverywasaniniquity,andoughttobeabolished. Iwouldsaytherewasnoreasonnorjusticeinthelaw,ortheconstitutionthatallowsonemantoholdanothermaninbondage. Itwouldbehardforyoutoloseyourproperty,tobesure,butitwouldn’tbehalfashardasitwouldbetoloseyourliberty.