My tendency was upward. I
was fast approaching manhood, and year after year had passed, and I
was still a slave. These thoughts roused me--I must do something. I
therefore resolved that 1835 should not pass without witnessing an
attempt, on my part, to secure my liberty. But I was not willing to
cherish this determination alone. My fellow-slaves were dear to me. I
was anxious to have them participate with me in this, my life-giving
determination. I therefore, though with great prudence, commenced early
to ascertain their views and feelings in regard to their condition, and
to imbue their minds with thoughts of freedom. I bent myself to devising
ways and means for our escape, and meanwhile strove, on all fitting
occasions, to impress them with the gross fraud and inhumanity of
slavery. I went first to Henry, next to John, then to the others. I
found, in them all, warm hearts and noble spirits. They were ready to
hear, and ready to act when a feasible plan should be proposed. This was
what I wanted. I talked to them of our want of manhood, if we submitted
to our enslavement without at least one noble effort to be free. We met
often, and consulted frequently, and told our hopes and fears, recounted
the difficulties, real and imagined, which we should be called on to
meet. At times we were almost disposed to give up, and try to content
ourselves with our wretched lot; at others, we were firm and unbending
in our determination to go. Whenever we suggested any plan, there was
shrinking--the odds were fearful.
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