running a thousand miles for freedom-第7章
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ake 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 of voice repeated； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃
My master turned his head； and with a polite bow said； 〃Yes；〃 and commenced looking out of the window again。
One of the gentlemen remarked that it was a very great deprivation to be deaf。 〃Yes；〃 replied Mr。 Cray； 〃and I shall not trouble that fellow any more。〃 This enabled my master to breathe a little easier； and to feel that Mr。 Cray was not his pur… suer after all。
The gentlemen then turned the conversation upon the three great topics of discussion in first… class circles in Georgia； namely； Niggers； Cotton； and the Abolitionists。
My master had often heard of abolitionists； but in such a connection as to cause him to think that they were a fearful kind of wild animal。 But he was highly delighted to learn； from the gentle… men's conversation； that the abolitionists were persons who were opposed to oppression； and therefore； in his opinion； not the lowest； but the very highest； of God's creatures。
Without the slightest objection on my master's part； the gentlemen left the carriage at Gordon； for Milledg
