Stephen+Douglas

**Past/Individual and family history**: first married Martha Martin, the daughter of wealthy Colonel Robert Martin of North Carolina. He was then given a responsibility to take care of the cotton plantation Lawrence County, Mississippi worked by slaves. Douglas charged a manager to care of the cotton plantation, so he can work for the American politics. With the cotton plantation, he was able to benefit economically during his political career. Later when Martha Martin died, he married another women named Adele Cutts, who was daughter of James Madison Cutts and a great-niece of former US First Lady Dolley Madison. **Family**: Martha Martin, two sons, Adele Cutts
 * Name**: Stephen Douglas
 * Age**: 37
 * Gender**: male
 * Occupation**: American politician
 * If in politics, what was your occupation prior to that**: itinerant teacher
 * Social Class**: upper class
 * Financial Situation**: stable
 * Appearance**: [[image:471px-StephenADouglas.png width="197" height="278"]]
 * Location**: Illinois
 * Daily Routine**: worked in the American politician as the Illinois House of Representative
 * Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits**: nicknamed the **"Little Giant"** because he was short of stature but was considered by many a "giant" in politics. Douglas was well-known as a resourceful party leader, and an adroit, ready, skillful tactician in debate and passage of legislation.
 * Social relations with others:** he had no specific conflict with anyone
 * Religion:** Christian
 * Education:** studied in Canandaigua Academy
 * Conflicts/Enemies**: Competed with Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860

September 27th, 1850

It’s been a while since I’ve had such free time to write on my diary. It’s 9:00 at night, and I can sense the moonlight shining through my window and reflecting upon my pen as it moves swiftly, yet powerfully, on this very own paper. Ah yes... I guess this is what you call it a relaxing moment.

I realize it’s been awhile since my last entry, but I have my reasons for it. I’ve been busy designing the Compromise of 1850 (I guess that’s what they call it as now). I still can’t recall how many sleepless nights I had to spend coming with the very final draft of this compromise. But what really bothers me is the fact that much of the credit of this compromise is solely going towards Henry Clay. Yes, I admit it was him that first developed the whole idea of this compromise. And yes, I admit Clay is also a great man, whom I respect dearly. But I still feel a bit disappointed as the United States only views him as the headlight of the compromise. I believe I should deserve some too, as I was the one who largely guided the compromise to an actual passage. I also had to divide the compromise into separate parts, so that the compromise itself would be passed despite the arguments between the North and the South. I realize it’s very unprofessional of me to complain about such matter. But I guess if I were to complain, this is the perfect place to let out all of my feelings...

I don’t really mind being the unsung hero. Greed for fame is not what I intended to have in the first place. Now that the nation seems to be stable due to this compromise, I guess I have successfully done my job. Anyways, I better get back to Martha. She’s been alone quite awhile these days due to my frequent absences.I should first make sure she is happy before I care so much about my own job. Because after all, how is a political man suppose the make the entire nation happy if he can’t even make a single woman happy?

November 11th, 1852

Winter is just around its corner. When walking down the street this morning, I could feel the chilly wind brushing against my pale cheek.

I wish the chilliness would not come so fast. It’s not because I detest the cold weather or anything (in fact, I don’t mind the cold weather at all). But it’s mainly because I’m concerned about Martha’s health. She’s been ill for awhile. Well, actually a long time now that I think about it. And I just hope the cold weather won’t make her even worse.

I had a lunch meeting with Andrew Johnson, the member of the House of Representatives and a Senate of Tennessee. I gotta say, he’s a very decent man. He never failed to show full respect towards me. And it’s not like we get along that well, for we seem to hold different views toward the whole idea of slavery. He seems to lean more towards pro-slavery, while I began to think it is just best for the states to practice “popular-sovereignty”. I honestly believe there’s really no need for this nation’s political parties to argue too much about slavery, when the whole problem can be solved if we were to just allow the people to decide upon themselves.

Anyways, the meeting was pleasant. We mainly talked about the future, rather than the past or the present. His biggest concern were the farmers and their necessities to receive more equal care. I got to say, it was very entertaining to hear his thoughts. I realized how much I was too overwhelmed with this issue of slavery, I totally began to blind myself towards many other issues. I admired Johnson for his ability to care about other issues as well. I can sense this man has a huge road ahead of him.

Recently, I’ve also heard about a fellow named Dred Scott. He is a runaway slave, but quite different from other runaway slaves that have successfully achieved their freedom. Scott has been haunted by the new Fugitive Slave Law, and is currently being denied for his freedom. I do not know great details, for I have been informed through gossips that have been going around in this town. I feel great sympathy for the man and hope he will attain his freedom.

November 14th, 1854

Dear diary...

I would never start my journal with the phrase, "dear diary". Well, except today. I am confused and helpless, and need somebody who I can have a heart-to-heart conversation with. I guess there's really nobody who can do that, so I decide to pour everything onto my diary. So please hear me out diary...

It’s already been almost two years since my beloved wife, Martha, passed away. The moment she closed her eyes and left me behind, I felt miserable. I never realized a single person could mean so much to me after all.

And as the issue of slavery seems to get more serious each day, I am finding myself stuck in the middle of this entire chaos. The proslavery seems to criticize me for being supportive towards the antislavery, while the antislavery seems to criticize me for being supportive towards the proslavery. But honestly, I am not really in either sides. I always believed in the ‘popular sovereignty’, in which the people can decide their own states’ name tags of being either free state or slave state. In order for United States to meet its true democracy, where people rule the nation, ‘popular sovereignty’ is the only key that will unlock such desire.

But as I recently proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, all I seemed to receive were criticisms. I only wanted to open the settlement for Kansas and Nebraska territory, so it would facilitate the railroad system of my hometown, Ilinois. But with my decision of allowing popular sovereignty to this territory, the northerners were outraged against my plan, saying it will take away too much power of the North. I also begin to sense a split between the Democratic party between the popular sovereignty believers and antislavery believers. Protests against my action later seemed to rise in power, eventually making themselves a separate party with the name, the Republicans. Even my close friend, John C. Freemont seemed to not agree to my proposal, saying it would only increase the chance of more states being implemented as slave states. Simply put, my dream of true Democratic nation has become even more distant than before...

At least President Franklin Pierce is willing to be in favor of my proposal. Without him, Missouri Compromise would not have been repealed to make the Kansas-Nebraska possible.

November 22, 1856

In the midst of this dreadful time, I have finally seemed to find my savior. Her name is Adele Cutts, the daughter of James Madison Cutts and a great niece of former U.S. First Lady Dolley Madison. Although she is only 20 years old, she was like an angel to me that cured all my wounded heart and raised me back up to my true self again. She even allowed me to finally let go of my deep sorrow towards my beloved wife, Martha. Thus, I decided to marry her.

And I now feel like a complete different man. I feel like a man that can overcome any difficulties. Even though our newest president, James Buchanan, seems to criticize every aspects of my plan, I strongly believe I will continue to stay firm towards my belief of “popular sovereignty”. Because who am I? I am the great “little giant” of this nation.

I also know there are strong followers of my plan. If not, there are still believers towards my plan. I've recently heard that people in California, more specifically the forty-niners, are in some what agreement towards “popular sovereignty”. They seem to realize the true beauty of this plan: How issues can be solved if the problem was given to the citizens themselves to solve it.

Ah yes, but I will not lie. I am in full awareness of the infamous Bloody Kansas. And yes, such event may totally contradict my entire diary. However, I believe this event will be beneficial in the long run. I see this progress like the progresses we see in maturing boys. Boys will never learn to mature unless they actually experience their faults. Such experiences may involve fighting, arguing, and other violence. Similarly, I believe the Bloody Kansas mainly happened for the Kansas state to develop itself into a better and stronger state. People should stop worrying about what will happen in the next ten days, and start to realize what may happen in the next ten years.

December 19, 1860

Well… Merry Christmas…almost.

But what is this feeling that today does not feel merry at all? Recently, Abraham Lincoln has been elected as the new president of United States. Although I have received second most popular votes, I was far away from the electoral votes. Most of my support came from Iris immigrants and poorer farmers in the North. But it was no surprise that Lincoln won. The Democratic Party has literally been split into two sections—the north (which was led by me) with Popular Sovereignty and the south with pro slavery. My goal of achieving the true Democracy now only seems like an unreachable star. God, what has United States become?

I already knew Lincoln would become influential ever since our seven debates. Back then, he was like a little child entering the world of adults for the first time. Yet, he was still powerful. The way he attacked me and my plan of popular sovereignty was greater than I have ever expected. It almost was embarrassing to let such inexperienced politician control the debate.

Anyways, enough about Lincoln. There’s a whole new problem the entire nation now has to face: South Carolina. After Lincoln’s election, the South has reacted so ferociously as if it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. It now seems like the South has had enough of the conflict and is now trying to secede from the Union; and the first state to react to this idea was South Carolina. Simply put, secession would bring total chaos to this nation. It would mean a civil war will take place, causing countless casualties and demolitions of multiple cities. I simply cannot allow such catastrophe to happen. I still believe compromise between the North and the South is possible. So please dear God, don’t let United States fall into such disaster.