June 27th, 1858.—I have read a great deal in the two volumes of the Writings of John C. Calhoun and Father has told me still more. I have found out something else, Mother does not approve of slavery—she would be glad not to own a single slave, you see they are called slaves in these books I have been reading. She says her reason for this is that the white people are the real slaves. She thinks as time goes on it will become more so and she wishes to see them all freed and sent to Liberia. I do not want to give up my Lulu nor do I want her to be sent to Liberia.
Susan Bradford is 12 years old when this entry was made. Her schooling is at home from a hired teacher and she has already had algebra, though she hates math.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020