In the diary Espy discusses topics such as family life, church activities, weather, household chores, and her experience during the Civil War. Transcriptions are available: http://home.mchsi.com/~mlyle/diaryintro.html [not on the ADAH website].
In the first two letters (written March 17 and May 25, 1791), Knox discusses gathering troops "for the purpose of marking the line next October mentioned in the treaty of the Creeks" (referring to the new boundary lines agreed upon in the Treaty of...
In the letter Claiborne discusses recent attacks by Indians on white inhabitants in the territory: "The conduct of your Creek neighbours for some time past has been observed, and merit, in my opinion, exemplary punishment, and had I the power, they...
In his address Cobb insists that the slavery question, the central issue influencing the pending secession of the South, was not answered by the recent presidential election: "But gentlemen say they cannot do anything. They say that the edict went...
The act makes six provisions for dealing with the Cherokee Indian population of the state during the period of removal. First, it stipulates that U.S. citizens will not be allowed to emigrate to Indian reservations, include those Indians who were...
In the speech Bowdon discusses recent legislative debate concerning the expansion of slavery into the country's new states and territories. He argues that since slaves are property, the government should protect their owners' rights in any land...
The first item is a letter from Senator Buford, in which he discusses sectional division over the issues of territorial expansion and slavery; he suggests a convention of the Southern states to address the "impending results of the northern...
In the letter King discusses sectional division over slavery and expresses his hope that compromise will settle the issue and maintain unity: "The slavery question is the all absorbing subject here; and how it is to terminate God only knows...but I...
In the letter King discusses his business and the settlement of his father's estate, and he gives his views on the activities of the "fire eaters": "I addressed the people at Cahawba last week, and I think I succeeded in opening the eyes of many...
The introduction briefly discusses the terms of the "compromise bills" and encourages support for the decisions of the federal government: "There appears no objection from any Southern man to the Fugitive Slave Bill. After the Wilmot Proviso has...
In the letter King sends news of family and friends, and he discusses the unsuccessful attempts of the "fire eaters," who encouraged the secession of the Southern states: "I have as yet been no where & consequently know nothing of the movements of...
In his speech Kossuth discusses the struggles that his native Hungary has endured and praises the United States for its example in promoting state sovereignty over government centralization: "With self-government is freedom, and with freedom is...
In the letter Samford discusses his views on the proposed Kansas-Nebraska Act: "I see our North. friends are not slow to come up to the issue of non-intervention as made by the Kansas Act; but are we quite cautious enough about the Squatter...
In the speech Dowdell argues in favor of a clause in the bill that would repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820. He objects to a provision of the act that prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36ø 30' latitude line: "This line...
This assembly of the Alabama Democrats plans to send delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, despite the withdrawal of the state's delegation from the earlier meeting in Charleston: "There is a vacancy in the Delegation of...
In the letter Bolling describes campus activities and promises to do better in school than he had the previous year, despite his busy social life. He also discusses politics in detail, including the presidential election of 1860 and Virginia's...
In the letter John writes about his health, family members and acquaintances, and an upcoming fair. He also discusses politics in detail, including the presidential election of 1860: "I have just been reading Yancey's great New York speech. I think...
In the address Smith comments on the recent election of Lincoln; describes the objectives and administration of the new Confederate government; gives a historical and religious defense of slavery; commends the new government's prohibition of the...
From May 1861 to early 1862 Bolling Hall, Jr., served in the 6th Alabama Infantry. In the letter he describes a recent battle ("one of the most complete victories ever gained"), which took place on a Sunday: "It was certainly an eventful day. The...
In the first letter, written from the Exchange Hotel on January 10, 1861, Mitchell describes the tension and excitement in the city as they wait for the official declaration of Alabama's secession: "There seems to be no doubt, you may tell your...