Post #8

For this response I have chosen to adopt the persona of a southern slave holder and compare, contrast and react to two texts. The first text I have chosen is John Brown’s “Last Speech.”  John Brown states that he had peacefully moved slaves from Missouri to Canada, which we know is untrue because he actually led a raid into Missouri. As a southern slave owner, I would have a strong dislike for John Brown. Southern slave owners needed slaves to maintain a profitable plantation and they believed that inequality was a natural part of life.   Brown also states that his act was worthy of reward, not punishment.  Once again, the southern slave owner would be enraged at this statement since they believe that slaves are property and stealing them should not be rewarded.  The next text I examined is Jefferson Davis’s Inaugural Address.  In his speech, Davis promotes all aspects of the government that the southerners want out of it. As a southern slave holder, I would be really in tune with what Davis.  He does not oppose slavery in his speech which would have negatively affected his credibility with his people. These are two texts that come from very different perspectives, and would have two very different reactions.