It would be an unprecedented act to send into the world a work of
the magnitude of this volume, without a preface; and I am glad to
avail myself of the opportunity, which custom not only allows but
prescribes, to say something of the work before you. Its history
is as follows: It was suggested to me about two years since, after
relating to many the main facts relative to my bondage and escape
to the land of freedom, that it would be a desirable thing to put
these facts into permanent form. I first sought to discover what had
been said by other partners in bondage once, but in freedom now, and
from what States they came. I found many of my brethren from other
and remote States, had written on the subject, but scarcely any
from Maryland. I am aware that now, when public opinion makes it no
martyrdom to denounce slavery, there are multitudes of men that grow
bold, and wield a powerful weapon against this great evil; and even
school boys daringly denounce a system, the enormity of which they
cannot appreciate, surely I thought it may be permitted to one who
has worn the galling yoke of bondage, to say something of its pains,
and something of that freedom which, if he should not succeed in
accurately defining, he can truly say he will ever admire and love.