A+Southern+Plantation+Owner

**Age:** 30
 * [[image:prod_11404.jpg width="200" height="228" align="right"]]Name:** Lawrence Ethel Abernathy
 * Gender:** Male.
 * Occupation:** Plantation owner.
 * Social Class:** Aristocrat.
 * Financial Situation:** Evidently wealthy.
 * Appearance:** Relatively tall for this time period, broad shoulders, and impressive facial features. Sadly, he has a short neck and is starting to bald.


 * Location:** Southern region of the U.S. (slave states).
 * Daily Routine:** Watch over the work done in his plantation and study things that interest him, while leaving time to spend with his sons.
 * Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:** He is well educated and is knowledgeable about politics, yet he decides to take his hands off political science. He is a very doting father and has yet to find another significant other because he cannot forget his late wife.
 * Past/Individual and family history:** Descended from past plantation owners of aristocratic status in society. Has always been wealthy and cared for under greatly-loving parents.
 * Family:** A deceased wife and twin sons.
 * Social relations with others:** A prominent member of southern society and well respected by those around him. However, this is only within the southern borders; the northern views on him is quite contrasting.
 * Religion:** He studies religion for the sake of knowledge but does not necessarily believe in anything.
 * Education:** Educated enough to take part in government and affairs of the state; not only politics but also knowledgeable in religious concepts.
 * Conflicts/Enemies:** The majority of non-slave advocates and abolitionists in the north.


 * Journal #1** - //The time frame is sometime during the year 1850. Consider all of the things that have taken place during the previous five years (Mexican-American War, Mexican Cession, Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act). You are free to write about any one (or more) of these things in your journal entry. Be sure to include your actions in response to one (or more) of these events.//

//October 11, 1850.// I regret to note that I could not have been more relieved to hear of President Zachary Taylor's death. Although originally from the south, he was never one of us. With everything that has been happening, it is regrettable to see the dispute on slavery to have reached such an extent. Why must our nation be broken apart for the sake of these... slaves? I do not see what worth the northerners see in this vulgar upheaval of theirs. Slaves are necessary for the southern economy to remain prosperous, and more importantly for myself to maintain this social position. It's ridiculous to consider working my plantations with any less labor than that produced by my current slaves. Truthfully, whether states are established as free states or not does not concern me. As long as I am able to retain possession of my slaves, I will not involve myself in these matters. However, the expansion of free states throughout America, may bring about ideas of freedom in my state; that is something I cannot permit, and that is why I bear these issues in mind.

The compromise is not exactly to my liking because I feel the north has outwitted us in a way. In return for the Southern California territory, New Mexico and Utah were given a chance to become slave states through popular sovereignty. Despite this, they also have the decision to be free; this decision is more likely because their land is not right for agricultural production. As a plantation owner, this much knowledge is basic. They will most likely turn to other means of economic income. Their ideologies will soon stand parallel with the northern states, as those inhabiting these regions are already not of the south. Although the compensation - for land that was to be ours according to the constitution - does not seem suitable, I believe they have made amends through the Fugitive Slave Act. I may not know what schemes those northerners have up their sleeves, but my slaves will never succeed in escaping at the outset.

//Ethel.//


 * Journal #2** - //The year is now 1852. Continue your story as you began in Journal #1. For this journal entry and all subsequent entries, you must interact with at least two other characters in each journal entry. When you interact with another character, provide a hyperlink to that character's page in your journal entry.//

//November 4, 1852// Hypocrisy! All the northern anti-slave advocates are transparent hypocrites. They are against slavery and yet they do not want freedom for the African Americans because of their reluctance to accept them as free citizens. Is this not contradictory to their own word? They are skeptical of their own ideas and lack a solution for the problem. If they are not willing to see slaves on the same societal level, they should not bother bringing the topic to attention. It has caused trouble for everyone, and for what? To deal with a group of people who are ambivalent on the topic of slavery. I say outsiders should let the masters of these slaves decide what they will do and detach themselves from private matters.

Only those whose actions reflect their words have a right to say anything about the ownership of slaves. Not that what they say will be followed, but they have the justifications and basis on which they can fight for what they believe. People like John Brown or Harriet Beecher Stowe have become abolitionists to save the lives of slaves while others stand back undecided. Just because I respect the enthusiasm of these people, most definitely does not mean I agree with their ideologies. I have no intention whatsoever to give up my slaves, to put my sons' futures in jeopardy. I have heard much about abolitionist attempts to liberate escapees in the north from the Fugitive Slave Act along with the violence that often follows. The rate of their success is to be determined, but the south is not one to go down without a fight.

Franklin Pierce has won the presidential election which will allow the democrats to be on top politically. As David Wilmot admitted he was, "jealous of the power of the South," we will take hold of the administration as the dominating political party. Although we must not ease up completely, the ones that should be feeling anxious at this point in time, are the republicans. Only time will tell how far Pierce's administration will take us.

//Ethel. //