Perspective+of+a+Southerner

1856



Emily Adams

These are difficult times. I feel as though our country is being divided because of all this nonsense about slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act had finally opened up the states to become better, to become pro-slavery states. However, those anti-slavery organizations from the North keep arguing with us about these matters. They’re a violent group, really. They keep provoking us Southerners into a fight. But I know, nothing good would come from fighting. Everyday, news that reaches me never fails to devastate me. I hear talk of bloody murders, senates openly showing violence, guerilla attacks starting everywhere… All this so that we could decide what constitution would rule over Kansas.

I will probably never understand the Northerners. These so-called “violent acts” of slavery is preposterous. It has been this way since my mother, my mother’s mother, and her mother’s time. Why now? Why suddenly question what’s been done for hundreds of years? I will probably never know the answer but I do not wish for meaningless blood to be spilt. I have to keep hoping that this terrible war will end soon.

My oldest son, Henry has joined our brave Border Ruffians. People were alarmed when they heard that 30,000 Northerners were approaching Kansas. We Southerners had to take action. Thousands of young men like my dear Henry marched off to go against the people from the North. He writes me letters from time to time and everyday I grow more anxious for him. I pray to God every night that the Northerners will come to their senses and end this war so that my son can return to my side.

Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Kansas Picture:http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/B/BronteEmily/images/BronteEmily.jpg