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Collected Articles of Frederick Douglass
by Frederick Douglass
In the first narrative of my experience in slavery； written nearly
forty years ago； and in various writings since； I have given
the public what I considered very good reasons for withholding
the manner of my escape。 In substance these reasons were； first；
that such publication at any time during the existence of slavery
might be used by the master against the slave； and prevent
the future escape of any who might adopt the same means that I did。
The second reason was； if possible； still more binding to silence：
the publication of details would certainly have put in peril
the persons and property of those who assisted。 Murder itself was
not more sternly and certainly punished in the State of Maryland
than that of aiding and abetting the escape of a slave。
Many colored men； for no other crime than that of giving aid to
a fugitive slave； have； like Charles T。 Torrey； perished in prison。
The abolition of slavery in my native State and throughout the country；
and the lapse of time； render the caution hitherto observed
no longer necessary。 But even since the abolition of slavery；
I have sometimes thought it well enough to baffle curiosity
by saying that while slavery existed there were good reasons
for not telling the manner of my escape； and since slavery
had ceased to exist； there was no reason for telling it。
I shall now； however； cease to avail myself of this formula； and；
as far as I can； endeavor to satisfy this very natural curiosity。
I should； perhaps； have yielded to that feeling sooner； had there been
anything very heroic or thrilling in the incidents connected with
my escape； for I am sorry to say I have nothing of that sort to
tell； and yet the courage that could risk betrayal and the bravery
which was ready to encounter death； if need be； in pursuit of
freedom； were essential features in the undertaking。 My success
was due to address rather than courage； to good luck rather than
bravery。 My means of escape were provided for me by the very men
who were making laws to hold and bind me more securely in slavery。
It was the custom in the State of Maryland to require the free
colored people to have what were called free papers。
These instruments they were required to renew very often；
and by charging a fee for this writing； considerable sums from
time to time were collected by the State。 In these papers the name；
age； color； height； and form of the freeman were described；
together with any scars or other marks upon his person which
could assist in his identification。 This device in some measure
defeated itselfsince more than one man could be found to answer
the same general description。 Hence many slaves could escape
by personating the owner of one set of papers； and this was often done
as follows： A slave； nearly or sufficiently answering the description
set forth in the papers； would borrow or hire them till by means of them
he could escape to a free State； and then； by mail or otherwise；
would return them to the owner。 The operation was a hazardous one for
the lender as well as for the borrower。 A failure on the part of
the fugitive to send back the papers would imperil his benefactor；
and the discovery of the papers in possession of the wrong man
would imperil both the fugitive and his friend。 It was； therefore；
an act of supreme trust on the part of a freeman of color thus to
put in jeopardy his own liberty that another might be free。 It was；
however； not unfrequently bravely done； and was seldom discovered。
I was not so fortunate as to resemble any of my free acquaintances
sufficiently to answer the description of their papers。
But I had a frienda sailorwho owned a sailor's protection；
which answered somewhat the purpose of free papersdescribing his person；
and certifying to the fact that he was a free American sailor。
The instrument had at its head the American eagle； which gave
it the appearance at once of an authorized document。
This protection； when in my hands； did not describe
its bearer very accurately。 Indeed； it called for a man
much darker than myself； and close examination of it would
have caused my arrest at the start。
In order to avoid this fatal scrutiny on the part of railroad
officials； I arranged with Isaac Rolls； a Baltimore hackman；
to bring my baggage to the Philadelphia train just on the moment
of starting； and jumped upon the car myself when the train was in motion。
Had I gone into the station and offered to purchase a ticket；
I should have been instantly and carefully examined； and undoubtedly arrested。
In choosing this plan I considered the jostle of the train； and the natural
haste of the conductor； in a train crowded with passengers； and relied upon
my skill and address in playing the sailor； as described in my protection；
to do the rest。 One element in my favor was the kind feeling which prevailed
in Baltimore and other sea…ports at the time； toward 〃those who go down
to the sea in ships。〃 〃Free trade and sailors' rights〃 just then expressed
the sentiment of the country。 In my clothing I was rigged out in sailor style。
I had on a red shirt and a tarpaulin hat； and a black cravat tied
in sailor fashion carelessly and loosely about my neck。 My knowledge
of ships and sailor's talk came much to my assistance； for I knew a ship
from stem to stern； and from keelson to cross…trees； and could talk sailor
like an 〃old salt。〃 I was well on the way to Havre de Grace before
the conductor came into the negro car to collect tickets and examine
the papers of his black passengers。 This was a critical moment in the drama。
My whole future depended upon the decision of this conductor。
Agitated though I was while this ceremony was proceeding； still；
externally； at least； I was apparently calm and self…possessed。
He went on with his dutyexamining several colored passengers
before reaching me。 He was somewhat harsh in tome and peremptory
in manner until he reached me； when； strange enough； and to my surprise
and relief； his whole manner changed。 Seeing that I did not readily
produce my free papers； as the other colored persons in the car had done；
he said to me； in friendly contrast with his bearing toward the others：
〃I suppose you have your free papers？〃
To which I answered：
〃No sir； I never carry my free papers to sea with me。〃
〃But you have something to show that you are a freeman； haven't you？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 I answered； 〃I have a paper with the American Eagle on it；
and that will carry me around the world。〃
With this I drew from my deep sailor's pocket my seaman's protection；
as before described。 The merest glance at the paper satisfied him；
and he took my fare and went on about his business。 This moment
of time was one of the most anxious I ever experienced。
Had the conductor looked closely at the paper； he could not
have failed to discover that it called for a very dif