1856 Handwritten journal-John Shaw of Portland, Maine-slavery content-NY-Chicago

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1856 Handwritten journal-John Shaw of Portland, Maine-slavery content-NY-Chicago:
$281.00

This is a handwritten manuscript journal of John W. Shaw of Portland, Maine. The date at the front of the book is March 2, 1856. The hournal documents Shaw\'s retirement as secretary of a business firm in Portland and his travels to Chicago and New York in 1856. It is written on two sides, from front to back and then flipped over back to front.Condition: Bound in half leather, with leather spine and corners and marbled paper over boards. Shelf wear and rubbing to the spine edges and corners. Corners bumped. Some scuff marks to the binding and spine as well. The binding is tight and the journal has been well preserved.The writer was a well-read and literate man, which is obvious from his writings. Side 1 contains 18 pages of journal entries being beginning March 8, 1856 and concluding December 17, 1856. Many of his writings are religious in nature, with his thoughts on Christian doctrines and his observations of Sunday religious services in the areas that he was visiting, such as Syracuse, New York, Boston, Chicago etc. He mentions in an entry of March 10, 1856 that while on a train he \"Had quite a discussion with a gentleman on slavery and women\'s rights.\"Side 2 of the journal has about 50 written pages. It is labeled in the front as \"Thoughts\". There are 7 pages of writings, then 5 pages of journal entries starting in September 13, 1857 in Chicago. Then another 35-40 pages of his own personal writings. Included in this are transcriptions of a couple of letters to the editor written by Mr. Shaw. In one of the letters to the editor he gives detailed commentary and opinions about the upcoming presidential election and the presidential candidates Buchanan and Pierce. He has some interesting and insightful commentary on slavery, the Democratic Party and the then-current political struggle between North and South in the years before the Civil War. He writes:
\" There is much thought of late upon the subject of human freedom. The Democratic Party are in their sympathies Southern. They say they’re willing to leave the question of slavery to be settled by the states, and that the territory should be permitted to decide the question as to whether they will receive slavery within their borders or refuse it.The Republican Party says that there shall be no more slave states added to the union. Now my own feeling upon the subject is that slavery is an evil. The black man is a man and the image of God as well as the white man. Nowhere is it said in the Bible that there are three classes of beings, white men, the animal creation, and black men. Nowhere has Christ said that that salvation which he pled to accomplish was for white men. Nowhere is the black man received among the beast of the field. No, mankind is the same in his feelings whatever the color of his skin. We are told that he is inferior to the white race. How do we know this? Has he ever been given the means of making himself learned and not done it? No! The African has not been permitted to acquaint himself with learning.Winning buyer pays $4.00 shipping and insurance at cost, if applicable. Utah residents add 6.6% sales tax. Please see my other sales.All items sold by Orrin Schwab Books are guaranteed to be as described or are returnable for refund. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail for more information or better descriptions. I\'ve been a full time bookseller since 1991. I accept all major credit cards and Paypal.