JennY+Journal+Entry+4

Politics have become an important part of my life as antislavery movements are becoming more active. So many incidents are happening day by day. I hear surprising news every time when I go to the theater to the theater to study Shakespeare.

When I was memorizing my lines, my friend rushed in and told me that John Brown and a band of abolitionist settlers killed five pro-slavery settlers north of Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin County, Kansas. ‘He just crossed the line,” I thought to myself. It wasn’t a surprise that John Brown made some bloody mess. Brown and those ignorant free state settlers were optimistic that they could bring Kansas into the union as a slavery-free state. But luckily, things didn’t turn out well as they expected. In early 1856 pro-slavery forces, not to mention my dad’s old friend Lawrence Ethel, were willing to violate the rule of law in order to force Kansas to become a slave state. I guessed this provoked thoughtless Brown to believe that terrorism, fraud, and eventually deadly attacks were the obvious agenda of the pro-slavery supporters, "Border Ruffians." Ridiculous! I just don’t understand why Brown is demanding violent action while most other Northerners are advocating peaceful resistance to the pro-slavery faction. I wish someone could assassinate him. I think tension in Kansas is escalating more thanks to John Brown. But I guarantee that Kansas will be a slave state to matter what.

Dear diary, despite a tragic incident in Kansas, there’s a blessing event that is President Buchanan’s inauguration. The Southerners and my family were so happy when he got elected for we all know that Buchanan personally favors slave owners' rights. Our neighbors actually held a festival, drinking and shouting “End of the Slave Power and hail President Buchanan!” I bet all Southern states were excited as well. I hope that his presidency would mark the end of both abolitionists and free-soil Republicans. He fought the opponents of the Slave Power.

There is an irritating incident that I just have to make a note here. Dred Scott, a slave, sued his owners for his freedom and is about to be brought to trial. I am enraged that this case is even brought to the Supreme Court. How dare a slave sues his master? How can a property be liberated? This is not right. I hope that our Southern Judge Taney will rule against Dred, and make it clear to all slaves that slaves are properties and are not citizens of the United States. As long as Fifth Amendment stands, our side wins.

John Brown’s attack, President Buchanan’s inauguration, and Dred Scott case make me tired. I hope everything turns out well. Justice stands before us. Everything will be solved by law. Let justice stand before us and organize our country as it used to be.