Letter To Slaves

Hello there my longtime friend. I hope this letter finds you and finds you well. I have long desired for us to be acquainted again. I often think about our times playing in the fields and streams of Knob Creek. Even though our parents were very strict and we didn’t get to see each other as much as we would have liked to, I cherish every memory we made together when we were children. I would love for you to come and visit my family and me, so if you ever conquer your fear of trains I would be happy to pay your way to come see us. I am still forever grateful for you saving my life on that hot summer day, if it wasn’t for your quick thinking I would not be here today. Austin today I am fighting to free our African Americans from a life of
slavery. Our Declaration of Independence states “all men are created equal.” How is having people as slaves creating everyone equal, I ask myself. I know some of my extended family had slaves when we were growing up, and I didn’t like it then just as I don’t approve of it now. We cannot divide our world by color or race. I worry about the future of our families and what will become of it. I have recently resigned from the Illinois legislature and I’m pursuing to be a candidate for the United States Senate. Hopefully if I win the United States Senate, it will help me win this fight to end slavery. My plan is to introduce my thoughts and feelings about slavery at all my appearances and speeches.
I want to encourage others that this world should not be divided. We should all live our lives the way each of us desires, and most of all everyone should enjoy the fruits of their labor. As it stands now the Southerners and many others enjoy the fruits of the slave’s labor. At my speech last month in Illinois I declared slavery “immoral.” I’m not sure of your thoughts or feeling about slavery, but I hope that this letter will put a new perspective on the issue for you and your family. The new Kansas-Nebraska Act that Congress passed a few months back allows each territory’s residents to decide whether they would permit slavery in their territory. I hope that with the power of the people that are against it will help spread over into other territories and then eventually there will be an end to slavery everywhere. I have said many times to myself and others that I would rather see you than any man living. I’m curious to know how things are back in Knob Creek. The last I heard you were still living in the same house you grew up in. Please write back and let me how you are doing. My address here is 413 S. 8th Street Springfield, IL 6270 I hope to hear back from you and more than anything I would love for you to come
visit.