BH-Chapter2

Dred scott’s grave in st louis

view of scott’s living area at field museum

31

chancellorsville,

AN INSPIRING HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA SCRIPT BASED ON SCOTT V SANFORD, THE (7-2) U.S.SUPREME COURT RULING READ BY CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER TANEY ON MARCH 6,1857 THAT STATED THAT NEGROES-WHETHER FREE OR SLAVE-ARE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS BY THE CONSTITUTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787 COULD NOT CONFER CITIZENSHIP OR FREEDOM TO NEGROES WITHIN THIS TERRITORY. AND FINALLY, THE 1820 MISSOURI COMPROMISE PROVISION DISALLOWING SLAVERY NORTH OF MISSOURI EXCEEDED CONGRESSIONAL POWER AND THUS, THIS PORTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACT WAS NULL AND VOID. AS A RESULT DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT WITH THEIR CHILDREN (ELIZA AND LIZZY) HAD NO JURISDICTIONAL POWER TO UTILIZE THE FEDERAL COURTS TO OBTAIN FREEDOM OR CITIZENSHIP. THIS RULING SET THE STAGE FOR THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES OF 1858 AND THE CIVIL WAR. HARRIET SCOTT’S TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF HER HUSBAND, DRED, IN HIS FREEDOM SUIT, FIGHTING TO KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER, AND THE UNENDING PLIGHT TO HAVE HER DAUGHTERS LIVE”FREE”IS A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AND MANKIND. THE STORY BEGINS AT FORT SNELLING IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY IN MAY 1836 WHERE DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT ACTUALLY MEET.

FEBRUARY 6, 1838 HARRIET MY GOD, DRED, I’M REALLY TIRED. I DON’T LIKE IT HERE IN FORT JESUP, LOUISIANA. AND YOU HAVE BEEN KILLING YOURSELF CONSTANTLY AT WORK.

harriet’s Grave marker

DRED WITH NO REWARDS FOR HARD WORK-MAYBE A LITTLE EXTRA FOOD THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COOK IN A COMMON KETTLE FOR ALL THE SLAVES. HARRIET WELL, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING-BUT I DON’T WANT TO GO THERE. DRED OH, YOU CAN AT ANYTIME GO THERE. YOU KNOW I WANT MY FREEDOM AND SOME DAY YOU WILL BE AS SPIRITED AS I AM TO HAVE FREEDOM. THIS HAS TO END-I CANNOT WORK 16 HOURS A DAY IN THE FIELD AND NOT GET PAID. I CAN’T PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY EITHER.

32

HARRIET YES, DRED-I KNOW IT IS MORALLY WRONG-AND AT LEAST HALF THE UNITED STATES FEELS THAT SLAVERY OR BONDAGE IS WRONG ALTOGETHER. BUT IF WE ESCAPE . . .

DRED

HARRIET NO, DRED! THE NATIONAL FUGITIVE SLAVE LAWS PROTECT MASTERS-EVEN IN FREE STATES. I DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS-SOME SLAVES HAVE BEEN TREATED QUITE POORLY FOLLOWING THEIR CAPTURE. NOT EVERYONE UP NORTH IS AN ABOLITIONIST. AND NOT EVERYONE DOWN SOUTH IS A SLAVERY ADVOCATE. THESE UNDERGROUND RAILROADS FOR SLAVES MAY BACKFIRE IF YOU ARE CAUGHT UP NORTH. AND I DON’T WANT LIFELONG WELTS ON MY BACK.

fort snelling, minnesota territory

DRED I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT. HECK! THERE ARE FREE SLAVES WHO WISH THEY WERE STILL SLAVES BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A ROUGH GO FOR NEGROES-EVEN IF YOU ARE FREE. HARRIET SO NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE STILL BETTER OFF EVEN IN LOUISIANA, THAN SOME FREE SLAVES UP NORTH. WE ARE JUST CAUGHT IN THIS MESS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL END BUT PROBABLY NOT IN OUR LIFETIME. DRED BUT BACK UP IN ILLINOIS THERE WERE PLENTY OF ABOLITIONIST FOLKS WHO WOULD ALWAYS BE ON OUR SIDE. HARRIET UNTIL THERE WERE LEGAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SLAVE FREEDOM. DRED WELL, . . . I STILL FEEL WE NEED TO FIND A SLAVE ATTORNEY WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO LOAN US THE MONEY TO BUY OUR FREEDOM. I KNOW THE BLOWS WOULD IF THEY HAD THE MONEY, BUT THEY’VE HIT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES ALSO.

court house, st louis, missouri

HARRIET AND I KNOW YOU CONTINUE TO ASK DR. EMERSON FOR YOUR FREEDOM-BUT HE REFUSES. AND I DON’T THINK IT IS HIM THAT IS UNWILLING TO LET US GO-I FEEL IT’S HIS NEW WIFE, IRENE.

33

DRED SHE ISN’T THE FRIENDLIEST OF SORTS-IN FACT SHE WANTS TO WORK US BOTH TO DEATH. HE COULDN’T HAVE MARRIED A WORSE WOMAN. HARRIET WELL, AT TIMES SHE’S NOT THAT BAD TO ME, BUT I KNOW SHE HAS A TEMPER WHICH I KNOW DR. EMERSON CANNOT STAND. I’VE HEARD THEM ARGUING-AND HE USUALLY LOSES. DRED ALL MEN LOSE IN ARGUMENTS WITH THEIR WIVES-THAT’S A FUNDAMENTAL FACT OF LIFE: IF THE MALE DISPUTES IT, YOUR MARRIAGE WILL END.

eugene field ‘s house

HARRIET I AGREE! NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT STRAIGHT, WE DO AGREE THAT LOUISIANA ISN’T FOR US. AND I DID RECENTLY HEAR THAT DR. EMERSON MAY BE TRANSFERRED BACK TO FORT SNELLING WHICH . . .

DRED WOULD BE MUCH BETTER THAN LOUISIANA, EXCEPTING THE WEATHER. IT IS SO UNBELIEVABLY COLD UP THERE. I NOW KNOW WHY DUCKS AND GEESE FLY SOUTH FOR THE WINTER. AND THEY DO IT FREELY. HARRIET BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN GET SOME REST IN THE NORTHSOME VERY GOOD REST. DRED I AGREE-I WILL DIE IN THAT FIELD IF I DON’T REST-I’VE ALREADY SEEN TEN VERY GOOD HEALTHY SLAVES GET ALL KINDS OF ILLNESS AND JUST DIE.

the field’s sons

HARRIET THEY GET CONSUMPTION-TB, GALLBLADDER DISEASE, APPENDICITIS, PNEUMONIA, CANCER-EVERYTHING-AND THEY DON’T GET DOCTORS-JUST DON’T-THEY COME HOME AND JUST DIE. DRED WHERE DID YOU LEARN ALL THOSE MEDICAL TERMS HARRIET? HARRIET WELL, IRENE MAKES ME WORK AT THE HOSPITAL HERE AT TIMES AND THE NURSES TELL ME ALL ABOUT DISEASE. MANY OF THE WHITE PEOPLE SURVIVE DISEASES THAT THE NEGROES DON’T SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO ACCESS

34

TO DOCTORS OR THE DOCTORS ARE ALL TOO BUSY. IT’S VERY SAD. DRED WELL-I GUESS YOU THINK THIS IS ALL OK TOO, HARRIET. HARRIET NO, I DO NOT, DRED. WE SHOULD ALL BE TREATED EQUALLY. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO? IF WE RUN WE’LL BE WHIPPED-IF WE SUE IN COURT FOR FREEDOM LIKE RACHEL DID-WELL, WE ARE AT THE WHIM OF A JUDGE AND WE DON’T HAVE MONEY TO GO TO COURT-NONE-UNLESS WE STEAL IT-AND IF WE ARE CAUGHT-WE DIE. DRED YES, I KNOW, BUT I WILL AS LONG AS I LIVE NOT ACCEPT MY POSITION-I WANT MY FREEDOM. HARRIET BELIEVE ME, DRED: IF I COULD GET YOU FREEDOM, I WOULD DO IT NOW, EVEN IF IT KILLED ME. I TOLD YOU AT FORT SNELLING THAT I WAS HAPPY. NOW I MAY NOT BE HAPPY IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY. WHAT ABOUT OUR MARRIAGE-DOESN’T THAT EXCITE YOU?

Surrender of Fort Donelson, Tennessee

DRED YES, I REALIZE YOU GAVE UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FREEDOM TO BE WITH ME-EXTREMELY LOVING AND HONORABLE. HARRIET I SHOULD SAY SO! MY GOD, I KNEW THE STAKES. BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL. I ACCEPT MY PLOT IN LIFE-I CAN LIVE WITH IT-YOU CANNOT. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN LIVE WITH YOU ANY LONGER HARPING ABOUT FREEDOM CONSTANTLY. THAT IS LIKE WANTING TO LIVE ON THE MOON. I’M SORRY-ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE A SLAVE. DRED OK-I’M SLAVE FOR LIFE-MY KIDS WILL BE SLAVES FOR LIFE AND NEVER GET AN EDUCATION, WORK FOR THEMSELVES, THINK FOR THEMSELVES, OR COME AND GO WHEN AND WHERE THEY WANT. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HARRIET.

slave auction lithograph

HARRIET YES I AM-THAT IS HOW IT IS. YOU JUST WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS AND WE WON’T DISCUSS THIS ANY FURTHER. YOU AND I CANNOT BY OURSELVES CHANGE THIS WORLD.

35

DRED OK-AND I’M GOING TO BED. MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE BRIGHTER. LOVE YOU! GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE.

HARRIET

FEBRUARY 20, 1838 DRED DID YOU HEAR THE GOOD NEWS, HARRIET? HARRIET NO, I DID NOT-I HAVE BEEN FEELING AWFUL. IN FACT I’VE FELT AWFUL FOR WEEKS. Roswell field

DRED NOT ONLY THAT-YOU’VE GAINED WEIGHT, YOUR MOOD IS REALLY UP AND DOWN AND YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM CONSTANTLY. HARRIET YES, DRED-I AM PREGNANT AND IN NO MOOD FOR ANY CHANGES. DRED BUT THIS IS A GOOD CHANGE! IN A FEW WEEKS WE WILL BE MOVING BACK TO FORT SNELLING, AWAY FROM FORT JESUP, LOUISIANA. ISN’T THAT GREAT? HARRIET MY GOD, DRED! I CANNOT EVEN WALK ACROSS THE ROOM, LET ALONE MOVE BACK TO WISCONSIN TERRITORY. ARE YOU CRAZY? THIS IS BAD NEWS.

sign to field house, modern day

DRED NO!! IT’S GOOD NEWS! WE WON’T HAVE TO WORK AS HARDYOU WON’T BE SWEATING ALL THE TIME. IT WILL BE MUCH BETTER. YOU’LL SEE. HARRIET DRED-YOU DON’T GET IT! WE ARE HAVING A BABY-WE CANNOT GO NORTH UNTIL THE BABY IS BORN. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. DRED BUT IF THE MASTER SAYS GO, WE GO-EVEN YOU SAID TO ACCEPT OUR LIVES AS SLAVES-AND THAT IS WHAT I’M DOING. BUT YOU WILL BE ON A BOAT-A STEAMSHIP-YOU

36

WON’T HAVE TO ROW NORTH. I KNOW THAT. MAYBE IT WON’T BE SO BAD. HARRIET BUT I WILL GET SEASICK, NAUSEATED, AND THROW UP CONSTANTLY ON A BOAT FOR WEEKS STEAMING UP THE MISSISSIPPI. I WON’T SURVIVE. DRED, WE ARE HAVING A BABY-THINGS WILL CHANGE IMMENSELY. DRED WE WILL STILL BE UNDER THE MASTER’S CONTROL, AS WILL THE BABY. WE ARE ALL THE MASTER’S PROPERTYREMEMBER? THERE WON’T BE ANY CHANGE. YOU KEEP SAYING ACCEPT THIS AS OUR LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT I’M DOING. HARRIET BUT HAVING A BABY IS WAY TOO MUCH FOR US-WE ARE WORKING CONSTANTLY. WHEN WILL WE HAVE THE TIME TO CARE FOR THE BABY?

st louis courthouse today

DRED I THINK THE MASTER WILL BE OK WITH THE BABY. HE OWNS THE BABY SINCE HE OWNS US, AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO SLAVES INCLUDING CHILDREN BELONG TO A MASTER. THAT IS THE LAW. HARRIET OK, I SEE. SO HE WILL OWN ELIZA. DRED ELIZA! IS THAT THE BABY’S NAME? WHAT IF IT IS A BOY? HARRIET IT WON’T BE-I CAN TELL-ONE MALE IN A FAMILY IS PLENTY ENOUGH. EVEN GOD WOULD ONLY WANT TO HAVE ONE DRED ON EARTH. DRED SO WHEN DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BABY?

Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia

HARRIET CAN’T BE SOON ENOUGH-THE NURSES SAY PROBABLY IN ABOUT 3 MONTHS. DRED THAT WILL PROBABLY BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP BACK NORTH TO FORT SNELLING. WELL, MAYBE IF WE LUCK OUT-IF THE BABY IS BORN IN A FREE STATE-EITHER THE WISCONSIN TERRITORY, ILLINOIS, OR EVEN IOWA TERRITORY-WE COULD MAKE A CLAIM THAT ELIZA WILL BE FREE. 37

HARRIET I DON’T KNOW, DRED-THAT MAY BE STRETCHING THE LAWMOST SLAVES I KNOW WON’T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S FREEDOM? WHY? THEY DESERVE IT!

DRED

HARRIET WELL, IT HAS TO DO WITH PERMANENT RESIDENCE-AND IF DR. EMERSON WHO OWNS US ISN’T PERMANENTLY RESIDING IN THE FREE TERRITORY-WELL, WE WON’T OBTAIN FREEDOM.

Struggle at the Bridge of Antietam

DRED SO WE’D HAVE TO GO TO COURT AND FIGHT! RIGHT? HARRIET SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN-IT WON’T HAPPEN-JUST WON’T. WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY OR FRIENDS OR . . .

DRED A MASTER THAT WOULD JUST LET US GO OUR OWN WAYAND NOW SINCE IRENE, THE DOCTOR’S WIFE, IS IN THE PICTURE-WELL, WE’LL NEVER GET OUR FREEDOM BECAUSE ONE THING THAT CONGRESS HAS AGREED ON IS THE SLAVE FUGITIVE LAW-ALL SLAVE ESCAPEES GO BACK TO THEIR MASTERS. HARRIET THAT IS WHY I JUST DON’T FIGHT THIS, DRED-IT IS TOO MUCH. I’M OFF TO BED. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. DRED GOOD NIGHT AND MUCH LOVE.

MAY 31, 1838 historical plaque at eugene field house

HARRIET IT IS SO HOT, DRED. I DON’T THINK I CAN TAKE ANOTHER DAY ON THIS STEAMSHIP THEY CALL”GYPSY.” DRED WELL, SOON WE WILL BE UP NORTH AT FORT SNELLING IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY-WE WILL HAVE IT GOOD UP THERE. THE BABY WILL BE BORN IN FREE TERRITORY AND IT WILL BE COOL WEATHER FOR YOU.

38

HARRIET IT WILL STILL BE A HOT SUMMER. WHO WILL DELIVER ELIZA? DRED DR. EMERSON SAID HE WOULD-HE LIKES US . . . AND LIKES US SO MUCH-WELL, HE NEVER WANTS US TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY . . . BUT HE DID SAY SOME DAY HE WILL CONSIDER GIVING US FREEDOM. HARRIET HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU ASKED TO BUY OUR FREEDOM? DRED ONLY THREE THIS MONTH. THAT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP IT IN HIS MIND WITHOUT BOTHERING HIM TOO MUCH. HARRIET OH-I GET IT. WE HAVE TO PLEAD FOR OUR FREEDOM-IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT? DRED YES-THAT IS HOW IT’S DONE-AND THEN THE MASTER FEELS GOOD ABOUT HIMSELF, EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS DEEP DOWN INSIDE HE’S COMMITTED A PAST BIG SIN IN GOD’S EYES. MAKES ME ANGRY, DRED.

political drawing showing lincoln freeing the slaves

HARRIET

DRED BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST ACCEPTING OF OUR FATE AND THE KIDS FATE ALSO AS SLAVES? HARRIET I HAVE-BUT NOW THAT I’M HAVING ELIZA-I’VE BEEN THINKINGOH, FORGET IT-IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH TROUBLE. DRED NO, WHAT IS IT? WHAT TROUBLES YOU?

anti-abolitionist handbill

HARRIET OH-I GUESS IF WE WORKED ON IRENE EMERSON-THE WIFEWELL, MAYBE SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND-I MEAN WOMAN TO WOMAN. DRED NO-I DON’T THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA-SHE HAS ROOTS, HIGH SOCIETY, AND A PLACE IN PRESENT DAY MISSOURI-A SLAVE STATE-EVEN IF SHE WANTED TO GIVE US OUR FREEDOM-WELL, SHE NEVER WOULD -IT ISN’T ACCEPTABLE TO DO THAT YET IN MOST CIRCLES AROUND ST. LOUIS-IN

39

FACT I’VE HEARD WE ARE MOVING TO ST. LOUIS AFTER FORT SNELLING. HARRIET THERE ARE MORE SLAVE TRADES AND FAMILY BREAKUPS IN ST. LOUIS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. WE’LL LOSE OUR KIDS FOR SURE IF WE GO BACK THERE. DRED YES, I KNOW-AND THAT IS WHAT I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT YOU WON’T LISTEN UNTIL NOW-NOW THAT WE’RE HAVING A BABY.

Battle of Lookout Mountain

HARRIET DRED, I’M GOING TO BED BELOW-I JUST DON’T FEEL GOOD. I THINK I’M HAVING EARLY LABOR. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. LOVE AND GOOD NIGHT.

DRED

JUNE 2, 1838 HARRIET DRED, WAKE UP! I’M HAVING THE BABY SOON-I’VE BEEN IN LABOR ALL NIGHT-MY CONTRACTIONS HURT EVERY TWO MINUTES -I CANNOT TAKE THIS-I’M ABOUT TO JUMP OFF THE BOAT! DRED THIS IS GOOD-WE’LL HAVE ELIZA-AND I HOPE IT’S A GIRL-AND THEN WE’LL ASK DR. EMERSON IF WE CAN STRIKE A DEAL FOR FREEDOM. interior of eugene field house

HARRIET MY GOD DRED-I’M HAVING A BABY-PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON-YOU ARE OFF DREAMING AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LABOR-OH, MY GOD! MY WATER BROKE-THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. DRED SHOULD I GET DR. EMERSON? HE SAID HE WOULD HELP. HARRIET HE WILL BE MUCH BETTER THAN YOU-GET HIM QUICK. DRED HERE HE COMES-AND WITH FORCEPS-I’VE SEEN HIM USE THESE INSTRUMENTS.

40

HARRIET THOSE ARE LIKE CLAWS-THEY WILL SQUISH THE BABY. DRED HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING-LET HIM MANAGE THE LABOR. HARRIET OH, MY GOD! THANKS, DR EMERSON-THAT DOWNWARD PRESSURE HELPS WITH THE PAIN. YOU SAID I’M ALMOST DELIVERED-GREAT. DRED DR. EMERSON: THEY SAY THIS IS ILLINOIS ON THE EAST SIDE AND IOWA TERRITORY ON THE WEST. HARRIET DRED! JUST SHUT UP AND LET HIM DELIVER THE BABY-HERE IT COMES-I’M PUSHING-HOLD MY HAND . . . WHAT RELIEF.

Attack on Fort Sumter

DRED ELIZA IS BEAUTIFUL-LOOKS JUST LIKE MOM. MAYBE A LITTLE OF ME IN THERE. HERE, YOU HOLD HER-I THINK SHE WANTS THE BREAST-SHE WON’T QUIT CRYING. HARRIET DRED, SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL-I CAN SEE A LITTLE OF YOU IN HER-JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE HER A BIT SASSY. SHE FEEDS SO WELL. DRED I AGREE-SHE’S REALLY CUTE AND SHE’S OURS-WELL, I GUESS SHE’S OURS FOR NOW. HARRIET WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT, DRED? DRED LOOK, HARRIET-YOU ARE THE VERY SMARTEST WOMAN I KNOW-AND I RESPECT THIS. BUT YOU REALIZE THAT ELIZAAS BEAUTIFUL AS SHE IS-SHE MAY BE SOLD AT A YOUNG AGE SINCE MANY MEN-MAYBE MASTERS-WILL BE ATTRACTED TO HER. THAT IS JUST THE FACTS.

Capitulation of Vicksburg

HARRIET THAT IS DISGRACEFUL, DRED-EXTREMELY DISGRACEFUL. SO MUCH SO THAT NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT-WELL, I’M WILLING TO FIGHT FOR OUR FAMILY’S FREEDOM IF ONE SHOULD EVER BREAK US UP. I NEVER WANT TO BE AWAY FROM ELIZA-SHE IS MY WORLD-WE WILL BE THE CLOSEST MOTHER AND DAUGHTER EVER. AND WE . . .

41

DRED I GET THE POINT HARRIET-BUT WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IRENE EMERSON MOST LIKELY. I THINK SHE IS THE BOSS IN DR. EMERSON’S FAMILY. YOU’LL HAVE TO GET TO HER. MAYBE YOU CAN CONVINCE IRENE TO GIVE US OUR FREEDOM. I KNOW DR. EMERSON MIGHT-ESPECIALLY AFTER HIS MILITARY CAREER ENDS SHORTLY. HARRIET I’M EXHAUSTED, DRED. CAN YOU WRAP ELIZA UP AND PUT HER IN BED? THERE’RE SOME BLANKETS IN THE BACK ROOM OF THE BOAT. BESIDES, IN A COUPLE OF DAYS WE’LL BE BACK AT FORT SNELLING-AND YOU CAN GET MYSELF SOME MORE PEARLS SINCE YOU HAVE SUCH AN IN WITH THE LAKOTA AND DAKOTA INDIANS. GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE. Union Soldiers

DRED ELIZA SAYS GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE ALSO. End of Chapter 2, Beloved Harriet.

political cartoon from the dred scott era

42