[mac_truck]

I've read Stowe, I really don't think it is possible to counterbalance her work.

I agree that Uncle Tom's Cabin has been and continues to be greatly misinterpreted by all sides of the slavery issue. Stowe wrote the book after traveling in the south and being greatly moved by what she saw of that peculiar institution. The villian of the story, Simon Legree, was a yankee.

Yet when Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in 1851 it enraged southern society and was quickly banned in the south. Her book also galvinized support in the north for ending (or at least not extending) slavery in the United States.

[Mark in the Old South]

I grew up hearing Stowe never was in the South but she lived in Ohio across the river from Kentucky. It seems it was common practice to send slaves across the river to run errands for their masters, including caring money to pay accounts, pick up provisions etc. The more you read on the day to day relationship of master and slave the more you have to scratch your head. 21st century man thinks he knows what he has not the foggiest, but don't try telling him.
Slavery was evil but most have no clue why therefore they are at risk for falling for the same evil but not in the form of slavery. (Everyone should be thinking socialism right about now)(I try to be helpful with my brackets)

[Mark in the Old South]

Oh yes I just remembered another old South story. Your point about Legree being a yankee (remember he was a fictional character) reminded me.

In New Orleans there was a wealthy doctor and his wife who lived in a large mansion in the French Quarter (it still stands, but is a private home) They lived secretive lives but there were all sorts of rumors, people would hear screams and cries coming for the home. One night a slave in the dungeon managed to start a fire. The French Quarter being a tightly packed city (and having burned once before) people rushed in to put out the fire, thereby saving their own homes. The site they found shocked them (I wonder if this story was the inspiration for Legree) It so enraged the WHITE community there was a riot. The doctor and his wife barely escaped with their lives. In fact they had to leave the country that very night.

Of course people had a sense of outrage then. They lived with slavery, even promoted it but there were limits. I wonder what they would have done to an abortion doctor?