Twelve Years a Slave
to whom it may concern, greeting_:
Whereas, I have received information on oath, which is satisfactary
to me, that Solomon Northup, who is a free citizen of this State, is
wrongfully held in slavery, in the State of Louisiana:
And whereas, it is made my duty, by the laws of this State, to take
such measures as I shall deem necessary to procure any citizen so
wrongfully held in slavery, to be restored to his liberty and returned
to this State:
Be it known, that in pursuance of chapter 375 of the laws of this
State, passed in 1840, I have constituted, appointed and employed
Henry B. Northup, Esquire, of the county of Washington, in this State,
an Agent, with full power to effect the restoration of said Solomon
Northup, and the said Agent is hereby authorized and empowered to
institute such proper and legal proceedings, to procure such evidence,
retain such counsel, and finally to take such measures as will be most
likely to accomplish the object of his said appointment.
He is also instructed to proceed to the State of Louisiana with all
convenient dispatch, to execute the agency hereby created.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and
[L.S.] affixed the privy seal of the State, at Albany, this 23d day
of November, in the year of our Lord 1852.
(Signed,) WASHINGTON HUNT.
JAMES F. RUGGLES, Private Secretary.
C.--Page 309.
STATE OF LOUISIANA:
Parish of Avoyelles.
Before me, Aristide Barbin, Recorder of the parish of Avoyelles,
personally came and appeared Henry B. Northup, of the county of
Washington, State of New-York, who hath declared that by virtue of a
commission to him as agent of the State of New-York, given and granted
by his excellency, Washington Hunt, Governor of the said State of
New-York, bearing date the 23d day of November, 1852, authorizing and
empowering him, the said Northup, to pursue and recover from slavery
a free man of color, called Solomon Northup, who is a free citizen of
the State of New-York, and who was kidnapped and sold into slavery,
in the State of Louisiana, and now in the possession of Edwin Epps,
of the State of Louisiana, of the Parish of Avoyelles; he, the said
agent, hereto signing, acknowledges that the said Edwin has this day
given and surrendered to him as such agent, the said Solomon Northup,
free man of color, as aforesaid, in order that he be restored to his
freedom, and carried back to the said State of New-York, pursuant to
said commission, the said Edwin Epps being satisfied from the proofs
produced by said agent, that the said Solomon Northup is entitled to
his freedom. The parties consenting that a certified copy of said
power of attorney be annexed to this act.
Done and signed at Marksville, parish of Avoyelles, this fourth day of
January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the presence
of the undersigned, legal and competent witnesses, who have also
hereto signed.
(Signed,) HENRY B. NORTHUP.
EDWIN EPPS.
ADE. BARBIN, Recorder.
Witnesses:
H. TAYLOR,
JOHN P. WADDILL.
* * * * *
STATE OF LOUISIANA:
Parish of Avoyelles.
I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the
original on file and of record in my office.
[L.S.] Given under my hand and seal of office as Recorder in and for the
parish of Avoyelles, this 4th day of January, A. D. 1853.
(Signed,) ADE. BARBIN, Recorder.
THE END
* * * * *
[Transcriber's Notes:
The transcriber made these changes to the text:
1. p. xi., Chalenged --> Challenged
2. p. xiii., Coversation --> Conversation
3. p. xvi, expresssion --> expression
4. p. 53, hight --> height
5. p. 58, susually --> usually
6. p. 86, She's not for sale. --> She's not for sale."
7. p. 97, looded --> looked
8. p, 103, capenter --> carpenter
9. p. 106, aligators --> alligators
10. p. 112, Chenyville --> Cheneyville
11. p. 135, gripe --> grip
12. p. 138, loose --> lose
13. p. 149, listing --> listening
14. p. 156, an one --> a one
15. p. 224, maintin --> maintain
16. p. 244, LEW CHEENEY --> LEW CHENEY
17. p. 274, priviliges --> privileges
18. p. 296, 'bringing down his hand emphatically on the table,' -->
bringing down his hand emphatically on the table,
19. p. 314, reppresented --> represented
20. p. 316, offer- --> offered
End of Transcriber's Notes]