running a thousand miles for freedom-第5章
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My wife had no ambition whatever to assume this disguise； and would not have done so had it been possible to have obtained our liberty by more simple means； but we knew it was not customary in the South for ladies to travel with male servants； and therefore； notwithstanding my wife's fair com… plexion； it would have been a very difficult task for her to have come off as a free white lady； with me as her slave； in fact； her not being able to write would have made this quite impossible。 We knew that no public conveyance would take us； or any other slave； as a passenger； without our master's consent。 This consent could never be obtained to pass into a free State。 My wife's being muffled in the poultices； &c。； furnished a plausible excuse for avoiding general conversation； of which most Yankee travellers are passionately fond。
There are a large number of free negroes residing in the southern States； but in Georgia （and I believe in all the slave States；） every coloured per… son's complexion is prima facie evidence of his being a slave； and the lowest villain in the country； should he be a white man； has the legal power to arrest； and question； in the most inquisitorial and insulting manner； any coloured person； male or female； that he may find at large； particularly at night and on Sundays； without a written pass； signed by the master or some one in authority； or stamped free papers； certifying that the person is the rightful owner of himself。
If the coloured person refuses to answer ques… tions put to him； he may be beaten； and his defend… ing himself against this attack makes him an outlaw； and if he be killed on the spot； the mur… derer will be exempted from all blame； but after the coloured person has answered the questions put to him； in a most humble and pointed manner； he may then be taken to prison； and should it turn out； after further examination； that he was caught where he had no permission or legal right to be； and that he has not given what they term a satis… factory account of himself； the master will have to pay a fine。 On his refusing to do this； the poor slave may be legally and severely flogged by public officers。 Should the prisoner prove to be a free man； he is most likely to be both whipped and fined。
The great majority of slaveholders hate this class of persons with a hatred that can only be equalled by the condemned spirits of the infernal regions。 They have no mercy upon； nor sympathy for； any negro whom they cannot enslave。 They say that God made the black man to be a slave for the white； and act as though they really believed that all free persons of colour are in open rebellion to a direct command from heaven； and that they （the whites） are God's chosen agents to pour out upon them unlimited vengeance。 For instance； a Bill has been introduced in the Tennessee Legislature to prevent free negroes from travelling on the rail… roads in that State。 It has passed the first reading。 The bill provides that the President who shall permit a free negro to travel on any road within the jurisdiction of the State under his supervision shall pay a fine of 500 dollars； any conductor permitting a violation of the Act shall pay 250 dollars； provided such free negro is not under the control of a free white citizen of Tennessee； who will vouch for the character of said free negro in a penal bond of one thousand dollars。 The State of Arkansas has passed a law to banish all free negroes from its bounds； and it came into effect on the 1st day of January； 1860。 Every free negro found there after that date will be liable to be sold into slavery； the crime of freedom being unpardon… able。 The Missouri Senate has before it a bill providing that all free negroes above the age of eighteen years who shall be found in the State after September； 1860； shall be sold into slavery； and that all such negroes as shall enter the State after September； 1861； and remain there twenty…four hours； shall also be sold into slavery for ever。 Mis… sissippi； Kentucky； and Georgia； and in fact； I be… lieve； all the slave States； are legislating in the same manner。 Thus the slaveholders make it almost im… possible for free persons of colour to get out of the slave States； in order that they may sell them into slavery if they don't go。 If no white persons travelled upon railroads except those who could get some one to vouch for their character in a penal bond of one thousand dollars； the railroad companies would soon go to the 〃wall。〃 Such mean legislation is too low for comment； therefore I leave the villainous acts to speak for themselves。
But the Dred Scott decision is the crowning act of infamous Yankee legislation。 The Supreme Court； the highest tribunal of the Republic； composed of nine Judge Jeffries's； chosen both from the free and slave States； has decided that no coloured person； or persons of African extraction； can ever become a citizen of the United States； or have any rights which white men are bound to respect。 That is to say； in the opinion of this Court； robbery； rape； and murder are not crimes when committed by a white upon a coloured person。
Judges who will sneak from their high and honourable position down into the lowest depths of human depravity； and scrape up a decision like this； are wholly unworthy the confidence of any people。 I believe such men would； if they had the power； and were it to their temporal interest； sell their country's independence； and barter away every man's birthright for a mess of pottage。 Well may Thomas Campbell say
United States； your banner wears； Two emblems；one of fame； Alas； the other that it bears Reminds us of your shame！ The white man's liberty in types Stands blazoned by your stars； But what's the meaning of your stripes？ They mean your Negro…scars。
When the time had arrived for us to start； we blew out the lights； knelt down； and prayed to our Heavenly Father mercifully to assist us； as he did his people of old； to escape from cruel bondage； and we shall ever feel that God heard and answered our prayer。 Had we not been sustained by a kind； and I sometimes think special； providence； we could never have overcome the mountainous difficulties which I am now about to describe。
After this we rose and stood for a few moments in breathless silence；we were afraid that some one might have been about the cottage listening and watching our movements。 So I took my wife by the hand； stepped softly to the door； raised the latch； drew it open； and peeped out。 Though there were trees all around the house； yet the foliage scarcely moved； in fact； everything appeared to be as still as death。 I then whispered to my wife； 〃Come； my dear； let us make a desperate leap for liberty！〃 But poor thing； she shrank back； in a state of trepidation。 I turned and asked what was the matter； she made no reply； but burst into violent sobs； and threw her head upon my breast。 This appeared to touch my very heart； it caused me to enter into her feelings more fully than ever。 We both saw the many mountainous difficulties that rose one after the other before our view； and knew far too well what our sad fate would have been； were we caught and forced back into our slavish den。 Therefore on my wife's fully realizing the solemn fact that we had to take our lives； as it were； in our hands； and contest every inch of the thousand miles of slave territory over which we had to pass； it made her heart almost sink within her； and； had I known them at that time； I would have repeated the following en… couraging lines； which may not be out of place here
〃The hill； though high； I covet to ascend； The DIFFICULTY WILL NOT ME OFFEND； For I perceive the way to life lies here： Come； pluck up heart； let's neither faint nor fear； Better； though difficult； the right way to go； Than wrong； though easy； where the end is woe。〃
However； the sobbing was soon over； and after a few moments of silent prayer she recovered her self…possession； and said； 〃Come； William； it is getting late； so now let us venture upon our peril… ous journey。〃
We then opened the door； and stepped as softly out as 〃moonlight upon the water。〃 I locked the door with my own key； which I now have before me； and tiptoed across the yard into the street。 I say tiptoed； because we were like persons near a totter… ing avalanche； afraid to move； or even breathe freely； for fear the sleeping tyrants should be aroused； and come down upon us with double vengeance； for daring to attempt to escape in the manner which we contemplated。
We shook hands； said farewell； and started in different directions for the railway station。 I took the nearest possible way to the train； for fear I should be recognized by some one； and got into the negro car in which I knew I should have to ride； but my MASTER （as I will now call my wife） took a longer way round； and only arrived there with the bulk of the passengers。 He obtained a ticket for himself and one for his slave to Savannah； the first port； which was about two hundred miles off。 My master then had the luggage stowed away； and stepped into one of the best carriages。
But just before the train moved off I peeped through the window； and； to my great astonishment； I saw the cabinet…maker with whom I had worked so long； on the platform。 He stepped up to the ticket… seller； and asked some question； and then com… menced looking rapidly through the passengers； and into the carriages。 Fully believing that we were caught； I shrank into a corner； turned my face from the door； and expected in a moment to be dragged out。 The cabinet…maker looked into my master's carriage； but did not know him in his new attire； and； as God would have it； before he reached mine the bell rang； and the train moved off。
I have heard since that the cabinet…maker had a pre… sentiment that we were about to 〃make tracks for parts unknown；〃 but； not seeing me； his suspicions vanished； until he received the startling intelligence that we had arrived freely in a free State。
As soon as the train had left the platform； my master looked round in the carriage； and was terror…stricken to find a Mr。 Crayan old friend of my wife's master； who dined with the family the day before； and knew my wife from childhood sitting on the same seat。
The doors of the American railway carriages are at the ends。 The passengers walk up the aisle； and take seats on either side； and as my master was engaged in looking out of the window； he did not see who came in。
My master's first impression； after seeing Mr。 Cray； was； that he was there for the purpose of securing him。 However； my master thought it was not wise to give any information respecting him… self； and for fear that Mr。 Cray might draw him into conversation and recognise his voice； my master resolved to feign deafness as the only means of self…defence。
After a little while； Mr。 Cray said to my master； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃 The latter took no notice； but kept looking out of the window。 Mr。 Cray soon repeated this remark； in a little louder tone； but my master remained as before。 This indifference attracted the attention of the passengers near； one of whom laughed out。 This； I suppose； annoyed the old gentleman； so he said； 〃I will make him hear；〃 and in a loud tone
