Notes

Write a note in this area. It's really easy to share with others. Click here .. yNewsela Editor's Note: This article was published in the edition of The New York Times of January 20, 1853. The original title was "A CASE OF KIDNAPPING: Narrative of apprehension and recovery of Solomon North-up." Article 163 year-old tells the story of Solomon Northup. he was kidnapped and spent 12 years as a slave on a plantation in Louisiana before being released. he returned to his family. later, he helped in the construction of the underground railroad inmont. its history he became the film "Twelve years of slavery" in 2012.

We have obtained from the Washington declaration from the accompanying circumstances surrounding the abduction and recovery Solomon Northup African American man, whose case has aroused a high degree of interest. The material facts of the history of the transaction have already been presented, but this narrative is a more complete and authentic record that has not yet been released:

Solomon Northup, the subject of the following narrative is a color free citizen of the United States; He born in Essex County, New York, circa 1808; Young became a resident of Washington County and married there in 1829. His parents lived in Washington County about 50 years, until his death, and were both free citizens. Along with his wife and children he resided in Saratoga Springs during the winter of 1841 and was employed there by two knights to lead a team to the south, at the rate of a dollar a day. In compliance with employment proceeded to New York and, after obtaining his papers to prove it was a free citizen, he went to Washington where he arrived the second day of April of the same year and stayed at the Hotel Gadsby's. Shortly after arriving, he felt ill and retired to rest.

While suffering from severe pain, a person came and saw the state he was in, it was proposed to give him some medicine and he did. That's the last thing he remembers Northup until he was chained to the floor of the slave pen WILLIAMS in this city and handcuffed. In the course of a few hours, JAMES H. BURCH a slaver, entered, and the black man asked her to remove the chains and wanted to know why they had been put. BURCH told him it was none of his business. The colored man replied that he was a free man and informed him where he was born. BURCH then called a man named Ebenezer RODBURY, and between the two stripped off his clothes and placed him on a bench, holding him by the wrists RODBURY. BURCH hit him with a paddle until it broke and then with a whip of nine tails, giving a hundred lashes and swore he would kill him if he ever declared that he was a free man. From that moment, the man says, for fear, never again he said that he was a free man, or what his name was, until last summer. He was kept in the slave pen for about 10 days, at which point BURCH got him the pen with others during the night, they put handcuffs and shackles, took him down the river on a steamboat, then to Richmond, where along with 48 other individuals they were placed on board the brig Orleans. At that time Burch left. The brig sailed to New Orleans and to get there before docking at the pier, THEOPHILUS FREEMAN, another slaver belonging to the city of New Orleans, and in 1838 had been a partner of BURCH in the slave trade, came the pier and received the slaves who had been landed under his leadership. Solomon was immediately taken by FREEMAN and imprisoned in the slave pen that city. Immediately after arriving there, he fell ill with smallpox and was sent to a hospital where he remained for two or three weeks. When he had recovered enough to leave the hospital, FREEMAN refused to sell to anyone in that neighborhood, and sold it to Mr. Ford, who lived in the county of Rapides, Louisiana, where he was moved and lived a little more than a year, where he worked as a carpenter, working with Ford in that business.

Ford was in trouble and had to sell. Mr. Tibaut became the buyer who, in a short time, sold it to Edwin Eppes in Bayon beouf, about one hundred treinta130 miles from the mouth of the Red River, where Eppes held him in a cotton plantation since 1843.

Going back a step back in the narrative, the man wrote a letter in June 1841 to HENRY B. Northup, New York State, dated and sealed in New Orleans, declaring that he had been kidnapped and was aboard a ship, but he was unable to indicate what his fate; but asked Mr. N. to help in the recovery of their liberty, if possible. Mr. N. was unable to do anything in his favor, not knowing where he had been taken and were unable to find any trace of him. His place of residence was unknown until last September, when the following letter was received by his friends:

BAYOU beouf, August 1852

Mr. WM. PENY, or Mr. LEWIS PARKER:

GENTLEMEN: since it has been a long time since I've seen or heard of you, and without knowledge if they are still alive, is with this uncertainty I write them; but the need for my case must be my excuse. Having been born free just across the river, I'm sure I should know; and now I am a slave here. I wish you can get the papers of my freedom, and I refer to the Marksville, Louisiana, Avoyelles County and do me a huge favor.

Sincerely, Solomon Northup

Upon receipt of the above letter, Mr. N, asks the Governor HUNT, New York, holding the necessary authority to allow it to Louisiana as an agent to procure the release of SOLOMON. The proof of his freedom was sent to Governor HUNT through affidavits of several gentlemen, including the General CLARK, among others. Consequently and in accordance with the laws of New York, HENRY B. Northup, it was established as an agent to take such measures through the acquisition of testing and hiring a lawyer, as necessary to ensure freedom of SOLOMON and to perform all functions of its mandate. He departed from Sandy Hill in New York on 14 December, and on reaching the city of Washington stated the facts of the case before the honorable PIERRE SOULE, Louisiana, the honorable Mr. CONRAD, Secretary of War New Orleans, the judge NELSON Supreme Court of the United States and other gentlemen. They gave Mr. N. letters to the lords residing in Louisiana, urging his assistance in meeting the objective of restoring the freedom of Solomon. From Washington, Mr. N. went through Pittsburgh and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the mouth of the Red River and from there, across the river to Marksville, Avoyelles County, where he employed JOHN P. Waddill, an eminent lawyer of the place, and who decided what was the best way to find and obtain possession of man. Soon it was found that there was no such man in Marksville, or in that neighborhood. Beouf Bayou, where the letter was dated, was 23 miles away at its closest point and was 70 miles long. For reasons that do not need to explain how so providential in which the residence of man can not be known now, although the circumstances would add much more to the interests of the narrative it was determined. However, he found no great difficulty, and legal proceedings began. The process was put in the hands of the sheriff, ordering him to proceed to Bayou beouf and found the man of color, and wait for the court order regarding the right to freedom of Solomon. The next day, the owner, along with his lawyer, came to Marksville and called Mr N., who showed them the letter he had received from the governor of New York and evidence in its possession related to the fact that man he was a free citizen of New York.

Eppes lawyer, after examining the papers, told his client that the evidence was abundant and satisfying; and it was perfectly useless litigating this issue, and advised by all means give the colored man so he could be taken back to New York State in compliance with the request of the governor. A clause was drafted between the applicant and Mr Northup, attorney color man, and recorded in accordance with the laws of the place, showing that the colored man was free. Once all worked out successfully, the agent and the rescued man began his journey to New Orleans on January 4, and, once there, scanned the titles color man from Tibaut to Eppes, LORD to Tibaut, and freeman FORD-all the titles that were recorded in the appropriate books maintained for that purpose. Having scoured the titles back as far as possible in New Orleans, the group proceeded to Washington, where BURCH lived, and through consultation, they discovered who had been in charge of the slave pen in that city in 1841 . they also determined from the manager who said the colored man (SOLOMON N.), indicating that it was placed in the pen in the spring of 1841, and then remained there for a short period by BURCH orders.

Immediately after receiving this information, a complaint with the police against BURCH Washington, kidnapping and sale as a slave of this man of color that was free he was presented. The arrest warrant was issued on 17 of the current by Judge GODDARD, and was brought before Judge MANSREL. BURCH was arrested and placed on bail in the amount of $ 3,000. Shekels, a slave trader for 17 years, paid his bail.

Justice was done when he said that the authorities of Avoyelles, and indeed in New Orleans, provided all the assistance in their power to ensure the establishment of freedom of this unfortunate man, who had been snatched cruelly from the land of freedom, and forced to undergo almost inconceivable suffering in this land of paganism, where slavery exists more repugnant than those described in "uncle Tom's cabin" features.

In the 18th instant, at 10 am, both sides appeared before the judge. Ohio Senator CHASE, General and E. H. CLARK Northup, being the plaintiff's lawyer, and J. H. BRADLEY representing the accused. The General H. CLARK E. Northup and sworn in as witnesses by the plaintiff and established the above facts. By the defendant, BENJAMIN Shekels and B.A. THORN oath. The applicant offered the colored man who had been kidnapped as a witness by the prosecution, but the court objected and decided it was inadmissible. Evidence of this colored man was absolutely necessary to prove certain facts by the prosecution, because only he was aware of them.

Mr. shekel, which had been as a slave trader BURCH said before, in the city of Washington for 17 years, testified that about 10 or 12 years was dwelling in a public house in this city does, and also He staying in this house and took care of the business of buying and selling of slaves, and in that year, two white men entered the bar and said they had a slave for sale.

Mr. BURCH immediately began negotiations for purchase. White men said they came from Georgia and had brought the man of color with them from that state and wanted to sell it to be brought back to that state; as people of color expressed their willingness to be sold in order to return to Georgia. Shekels, however, was unable to provide the names of any of the white men involved or the name of the man of color, because it was not familiar with any of them before that time, and had never seen any since he was out the operation. It also stated that saw them run a bill of sale for BURCH, saw BURCH paid $ 625 and took the sales invoice, and read that bill, but he could not testify who the seller was or who the person was sold as such sales invoice.

Mr. THORN was then called to the witness, and testified that he was in that tavern in the spring of 1841, and saw a white man negotiate a trade with BURCH by a black man; but if this was the colored man or not, he could not say as I had never seen before that time either white or colored man men, and did not know if BURCH had bought it and paid for it .

BURCH himself was called as a witness in his own name to demonstrate the loss of the sales invoice. His evidence was criticized by the prosecution, but was allowed by the court. He testified that had the bill of sale and had lost, not knowing what had become of her. The representative of the prosecution asked the court to send a police officer BURCH books, containing bills men of color sales for 1841 and earlier years. They were acquired fortunately, but no sales document this black man was found under any name. Following these positive evidence that the man had been in possession of BURCH and who had been enslaved for a period of more than 11 years, the court ruled that the testimony of the slave trader established the fact that BURCH had negotiated honestly for him, and therefore he excused himself to the defendant. The defendant's lawyer had made, before it was released the accused, an affidavit signed by BURCH and had an arrest warrant against the man of color, because of a conspiracy with the two white men above to defraud BURCH for $ 625. The order was carried out, and the colored man arrested and brought before the GODDARD officer. BURCH and witnesses appeared before the court, and H. B Northup is the attorney color man, indicating he was ready to proceed as counsel for the defendant and asking to be carried out without delay the process. BURCH, after consulting privately with Shekels, told the judge that he wished to withdraw the application because it could not go ahead with it. The defense lawyer told the judge that if the demand would be withdrawn, should be withdrawn without the request or consent of the accused. BURCH asked the judge to allow him to take demand and get the arrest warrant, and the judge agreed. The defendant's lawyer objected that he received these documents and insisted that they should remain part of the court files, and that this should approve the procedures were carried out under the process. BURCH delivered, and the court gave judgment withdrawal of the request of the applicant, and registered it in his office.

The condition of this man of color during the nine years that was in the hands of Eppes was almost close to the conditions of "Uncle Tom" character, while he was in that region, as described by Mrs. STOWE. During that period his cabin contained neither a floor, a chair, a mattress or anything where he could sit down, except for a table about 12 inches wide, with a block of wood for a pillow, and one blanket to cover, and that the walls of his hut not protected by any means from inclement weather. Sometimes, he was forced to make repugnant to humanity and scandalous in the highest degree acts.

On one occasion, a young woman of color who belonged to Eppes about 17 years old, went on a Sunday without permission from his master to the nearest half a mile away plantation to visit another young color your friendship. He returned in the course of two or three hours, and for that crime was called to punishment, which would be bound to inflict SOLOMON.

Eppes forced him to put four stakes into the ground at distant places for hands and ankles may be attached to them, as he lay with his face on the floor; and, having tied in such a way, she forced him while he was standing beside him, inflicting 100 lashes on his bare skin, after taking away their clothes. Having inflicted 100 lashes, SOLOMON refused to continue. Eppes tried to force him to follow, but he absolutely refused and challenged him to kill her. Eppes then took the whip and beat her until she was too tired to continue. Blood flowed from his neck to his feet and in that condition he was forced the next day to go to the country to work as a farmhand. She still bears the marks on his body, though the punishment was inflicted four years ago.

When SOLOMON was about to go under the care of Mr. Northup, this young man came back, unseen by his master, and threw her arms around the neck of SOLOMON congratulating him on his escape from slavery and their return to his family and at the same time, in the language of despair, exclaiming: "But oh, God, what will become of me!?"

The statements regarding the condition SOLOMON while he was with Eppes and punishment and the brutal treatment suffered by the youth of color are provided by the same SOLOMON. It has been said that the nearest plantation was about a mile and a half away from the Eppes, and of course there could be no interference from neighbors regarding any punishment no matter how cruelly out, or how they were well disposed to interfere.

According to Louisiana law no one can be punished for having sold SOLOMON slave as unfairly as they had been more than two years since it was sold; and can not claim compensation for their services, as it was purchased without the knowledge that it was a free citizen