872 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; OR,

CHAPTER XLV.

CONCLUDING REMARES.

Tue writer has often been inquired of, by correspondents from
different parts of the country, whether this narrative is a true one ;
and to these inquiries she will give one general answer.

The separate incidents that compose the narrative are to a very

t extent authentic, occurring, many of them, either under her
own observation or that of her personal friends. She or her
friends have observed characters the counterpart of almost all
that are here introduced; and many of the sayings are word for
word as heard herself, or reported to her.

The personal appearance of Eliza, the character ascribed to her.
are sketches drawn from life. ‘The incorruptible fidelity, piety
and honesty of Uncle Tom, had more than one development to
her personal knowledge. Some of the most deeply tragic and
romantic, some of the most terrible incidents, have also their
parallel in reality. The ‘ncident of the mother’s crossing the
Ohio river on the ice is a well-known fact. The story of ‘old
Prue” (Chapter XIX.) was an incident that fell under the personal
observation of a brother of the writer, then collecting-clerk to a large
mercantile house in New Orleans. From the same source was de-
rived the character of the planter Legree. Of him hér brother thus
wrote, speaking of visiting his plautation on 4 collecting tour:
‘He actually made me feel of his fist, which was like a black-
smith’s hammer or a nodule of iron, telling me that it was ‘ cal-
loused with knocking down niggers.’ When Lleft the plantation,
— a long breath, and felt as if I had escaped from an ogre’s

ao . i

That the tragical fate of Tom, also, has too many times had its
parallel, there are living witnesses all over our land to testify. Let
it be remembered that in all southern states it is a princip!e of
jurisprudence that no person of coloured lineage can testify in a
suit against a white, and it will be easy to see that such a case
may occur wherever there is a man whose passions outweigh bis
interests, and a slave who has manhood or principle enough to
resist his will. There is actually nothing to protect the slave's
life but the character of the master. Facts too shocking to be
contemplated occasionally force their way to the public ear, and
the comment that one often hears made on them is more shock-
ing than the thing itself. It is said, ‘‘ Very likely such cases

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LLL OO

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