Year+1856


 * November 13, 1856, Monday**

Bleeding Kansas. My poor, poor fellow countrymen. My fellow brothers, all murdered in a rampage! And what have they gotten out of the brutal war that happened? I have great adversity towards violence and war. We must work together as the nature allows us to, not to turn against from each other! Bleeding Kansas, I believe, was the proxy of the tension between the northerners and the southerners. As a northerner, I am glad that they are fighting for the abolishing of slavery in the state of Kansas. But on the other hand, I am horrified by the news of death and violence rampaging in the countryside.

Now John Brown, who I have met only through newspapers and gossiping women, is an exceptional character. He, I believe, has led the northerners to victory in the Pottawatomie Massacre of Bleeding Kansas. He is a true abolitionist, a true American hero because he is fighting for liberty and freedom. He is what every men in American should look up to. I revere him extremely, and I do wish that I have a chance to meet him in person. But now, I am praising him in every way I can, which means I talk about him in my university lectures, trying to get the students to be more appreciative of this man. I admire most of Brown's qualities, but I do wish that he would not be so radical with his ways. Him killing those five poor southerners was not the brightest idea he had, mind you.

I almost laughed out loud at the presidential elections of 1856. James Buchanan, the fifteen president of our glorious America? It is not that I do not like the man, for he is charming and witty as a man. But it is very difficult for me to believe that he would be a leader of one of the greatest nations in the world. He is, and the first word that comes to my mind is, "doughy". Too soft, too pacifying, and ultimately with not enough courage to end the slavery issue. He is a puppet of the north and the south, the only reason they called for a cessation of the war. He did end the fighting (at least for now), but as a result, he has created a vast alienation of both regions. Mr. Buchanan, you are not doing a very good job at putting this nation as one.

I should talk about the Dred Scott's case at once, but I am much too tired. You see, I have become very agitated over the issue of Buchanan and Brown in the past few weeks, so I have not received a good night's sleep for a long time. I shall write tomorrow and explain in detail about Dred Scott and his trial.




 * November 30, 1856**

Dear Diary,

It feels like it has been mere minutes since I last wrote to you. I now take great comfort in writing in your well-worn pages, although I often do not have enough time to manage that. In my last journal, I have mentioned that I would like to talk about Dred Scott and the trials. I will try my best, for I am a third participant in this matter. However, I have heard enough to piece together bits and pieces of the story to tell it to you, and whomever might be reading this.

Dred Scott was a black slave in the South (I quite forget the city which he was residing in...my memory is quickly fading away these days. It must be my age. I am well over forty, after all!) who did not receive protection from the United States of America and its government. How preposterous! Blacks, however different they might look from us, I believe still deserve to be treated like human. This business with slaves not being citizens are aggravating me!