Дванадцять років рабства

           Amemorialwasprepared,directedtohisexcellency,GovernorHunt,settingforthhermarriage,mydeparturetoWashingtoncity; thereceiptoftheletters;thatIwasafreecitizen,andsuchotherfactsasweredeemedimportant,andwassignedandverifiedbyAnne. AccompanyingthismemorialwereseveralaffidavitsofprominentcitizensofSandyHillandFortEdward,corroboratingfullythestatementsitcontained,andalsoarequestofseveralwellknowngentlementotheGovernor,thatHenryB.Northupbeappointedagentunderthelegislativeact. 

           Onreadingthememorialandaffidavits,hisexcellencytookalivelyinterestinthematter,andonthe23ddayofNovember,1852,underthesealoftheState,"constituted,appointedandemployedHenryB.Northup,Esq.,anagent,withfullpowertoeffect"myrestoration,andtotakesuchmeasuresaswouldbemostlikelytoaccomplishit,andinstructinghimtoproceedtoLouisianawithallconvenientdispatch. 

           ThepressingnatureofMr.Northup’sprofessionalandpoliticalengagementsdelayedhisdepartureuntilDecember. OnthefourteenthdayofthatmonthheleftSandyHill,andproceededtoWashington. TheHon.PierreSoule,SenatorinCongressfromLouisiana,Hon.Mr.Conrad,SecretaryofWar,andJudgeNelson,oftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates,uponhearingastatementofthefacts,andexamininghiscommission,andcertifiedcopiesofthememorialandaffidavits,furnishedhimwithopenletterstogentlemeninLouisiana,stronglyurgingtheirassistanceinaccomplishingtheobjectofhisappointment.