The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimonial Read Online Free PDF Page B

or shall rescue, or attempt to rescue, such fugitive from service or labor, from thecustody of such claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or other person or persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given and declared; or shall aid, abet, or assist such person so owing service or labor as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such claimant, his agent or attorney, or other person or persons legally authorized as aforesaid; or shall harbor or conceal such fugitive, so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of such person, after notice or knowledge of the fact that such person was a fugitive from service or labor as aforesaid, shall, for either of said offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by indictment and conviction.
    Harriet sat at the table and looked at her husband, his nose still buried in his books, research notes scattered about.
    She might have been born into a different life. She might have been born into the captive race, forbidden to dream, forbidden to write. She might have been born into a different family, a family that forbade her to speak her mind or think her own thoughts, a family that thought women inferior. She might have married a man threatened by her hopes, one who suppressed and discouraged her gifts. None of her good fortune was coincidental. It would be ingratitude not to acknowledge it all, not to be and do the things set before her.
    Harriet cleared her throat. “Professor, I have been reading over the letter—the excerpts from the Virginia governor’s diary.” She placed a piece of toast on her plate, waited for her husband to swim up from the text he was studying, to surface and acknowledge her. She buttered the bread and added a spoon of ruby-colored jam.
    Calvin looked over the page before him, inserted a bookmark, and then looked at her. “Yes.” He reached for a piece of toast.
    â€œIt seems to me that the governor had some doubts about the trials.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Do you have the letter?” Of course he knew she had the letter. She had been carrying it around with her for days. He smiled. “I don’t want to impose, but might you read from it to me?”
    She pretended to ignore his teasing and removed the letter from her pocket.
    â€œRead to me,” Calvin said, biting his toast.

Chapter 4
    H arriet bit into her toast; she did not want to appear too eager to share—though, of course, she was eager. She chewed slowly. Calvin lifted his brows. She used her napkin to brush crumbs from her mouth, doing her best to look nonchalant.
    â€œPlease, Mrs. Stowe, I am keen to hear what might make you believe the governor was not in full agreement with Southampton County’s handling of the rebellion and trials.”
    â€œProfessor, I know you are busy. I do not want to trouble you.”
    â€œIf you doubted my interest that would trouble me more.”
    Harriet cleared her throat, laid her napkin on the table, then began reading from the diary excerpts. “Governor Floyd begins writing on August 23rd, and it is obvious that he is most concerned.
    â€œâ€˜I began to consider how to prepare for the crisis. To call out the militia and equip a military force for that service. But according to the forms of this wretched and abominable Constitution, I must first require advice of council, and then disregard it, if I please. On this occasion there was not one councillor in the city. I went on, made all the arrangements for suppressing the insurrection, having all my orders ready for men, arms, ammunition, etc., and when by this time, one of the council came to town, and that vain and foolish ceremony was gone through. In a few hours the troops marched, Captain Randolph with a fine troop of cavalry and Captain John B. Richardson with Light Artillery both from this city and two companies of Infantry