Дванадцять років рабства

           Itwouldhavebeenanactoffollytohaveproclaimedmyrighttofreedom;itwouldonlyhavesubjectedmetosevererscrutiny—probablyhaveconsignedmetosomemoredistantandinaccessibleregionthanevenBayouBœuf. EdwinEppswasapersonutterlyregardlessofablackman’srightsorwrongs—utterlydestituteofanynaturalsenseofjustice,asIwellknew. Itwasimportant,therefore,notonlyasregardedmyhopeofdeliverance,butalsoasregardedthefewpersonalprivilegesIwaspermittedtoenjoy,tokeepfromhimthehistoryofmylife. 

           TheSaturdaynightsubsequenttoourinterviewatthewater’sedge,BasswenthometoMarksville. Thenextday,beingSunday,heemployedhimselfinhisownroomwritingletters. OnehedirectedtotheCollectorofCustomsatNew-York,anothertoJudgeMarvin,andanothertoMessrs.ParkerandPerryjointly. Thelatterwastheonewhichledtomyrecovery. Hesubscribedmytruename,butinthepostscriptintimatedIwasnotthewriter. Theletteritselfshowsthatheconsideredhimselfengagedinadangerousundertaking—nolessthanrunning"theriskofhislife,ifdetected." Ididnotseetheletterbeforeitwasmailed,buthavesinceobtainedacopy,whichishereinserted: 

           "BayouBœuf,August15,1852. 

           "Mr.WilliamPerryorMr.CephasParker: 

           "Gentlemen—IthavingbeenalongtimesinceIhaveseenorheardfromyou,andnotknowingthatyouareliving,itiswithuncertaintythatIwritetoyou,butthenecessityofthecasemustbemyexcuse.