# Chapter C: The Legal Emancipation of Solomon Northup explained — Twelve Years a Slave

> Chapter companion for Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.

## What happens

This chapter presents the official legal document recording the emancipation of Solomon Northup. Henry B. Northup, acting as an agent for the State of New York, appears before the Recorder of Avoyelles Parish to secure Solomon's release from Edwin Epps. The document certifies that Epps, satisfied with the proofs of Solomon's free status, surrenders him to the agent so that he may be restored to freedom and returned to New York. The act is signed and witnessed on January 4, 1853.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy of American Freedom

The legal document underscores the contradiction of a free citizen being enslaved for years, only to be restored to freedom through a bureaucratic process that acknowledges his rightful status.

### Quest for Freedom

Solomon Northup's long struggle for freedom culminates in this official act of emancipation, representing the successful end of his quest.

## Character check-ins

### Henry B. Northup

Appears as the agent of the State of New York, authorized by Governor Washington Hunt to pursue and recover Solomon Northup from slavery.

### Solomon Northup

Identified as the free man of color who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, now being surrendered to freedom.

### Master Epps

Edwin Epps, the slaveholder who surrenders Solomon Northup after being satisfied with the proofs of his free status.

### Mr. Waddill

John P. Waddill appears as one of the legal witnesses to the emancipation document.

## Key lines

> 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 23rd 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

Henry B. Northup appeared before Recorder Aristide Barbin, acting under a commission from New York Governor Washington Hunt dated November 23, 1852, which authorized him to recover Solomon Northup, a free New York citizen who had been kidnapped and enslaved in Louisiana by Edwin Epps.

_This establishes the legal authority and purpose of Henry B. Northup's mission._

> 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.

Henry B. Northup acknowledges that Edwin Epps has surrendered Solomon Northup to him, so that Solomon can be restored to freedom and returned to New York, as Epps was convinced by the evidence that Solomon was legally free.

_This describes the actual transfer of Solomon from Epps to the agent._

> 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.

The document was executed and signed in Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, on January 4, 1853, in the presence of qualified witnesses who also signed.

_This provides the date and location of the legal act._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters/c
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters