Glimmers of Change by Ginny Dye Read Free Book Online

Abby. Congress just reconvened. There have been a lot of senators who have tried to change our president’s course of action, but until Congress came back together, they could do little more than suggest, urge, and pressure. President Johnson has listened to no one.” He held up the sheaf of paper. “This is the result,” he said, his voice filled with disgust.
    “It’s almost as if they believe slavery will be reinstated,” Robert said slowly, his voice thick with disbelief. “It seems they are simply creating a different name for slavery.”
    Matthew nodded again. “I believe you’re right. Abby said it best at breakfast — we have changed the laws, but that has not changed people’s beliefs. Losing the war may have actually just intensified them. However irrational, the South blames the blacks for the war and for their defeat.”
    “That’s ridiculous!” Carrie cried. “It was the white people who created slavery in the first place.”
    Moses was the one to answer her outburst. “I don’t believe rational thinking figures into all this,” he said bluntly. “If they blame the blacks, they have to blame the ones who fought against them even more.” He gazed hard at Matthew.
    Matthew remained silent for a long moment. “It’s worse,” he finally admitted, taking a deep breath. “There are white vigilante groups forming around the South.”
    “So, Jerrod was telling the truth,” Simon said bitterly.
    Everyone turned to look at him.
    “Jerrod was a fella who came through a few weeks ago from Mississippi. He was looking for work, but we don’t need anyone right now. He told us he thought he might have been safe here on Cromwell but since there wasn’t any work, he was going north as far as he could. He told us about blacks being killed by groups of white men who descend on homes.” Simon’s face hardened. “Folks are being hanged, beaten, and whipped.” His voice cracked as he looked at Matthew. “It’s true?”
    Matthew looked far older than his years as he answered. “I’m afraid it’s true.” He stood and paced to the window, gazed out for a long moment, and then swung back to stare at the group. “We knew it would be hard…” he began.
    “Hard?” Rose cried. “This isn’t hard — this is slavery under a new name.” She gazed down at John who was curled up in the chair fast asleep and then clutched Hope closer to her chest. “I thought I was going to have a chance to raise my children as free people. Now I have to worry that someone could snatch them away from me and sell them to some planter as apprentices!” Her eyes shot around the room. “It could happen to little Simon or any of the other children here on the plantation.” Fear twisted her face. “It’s not right…” Her voice broke as she buried her face in Moses’s shoulder. “It’s not right…”
    Carrie and Abby moved as one, kneeling in front of Rose and taking her hands as Moses wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. They said nothing because there were no words to assuage the fear and agony she was feeling. Support was all they could offer.
    “Congress will fight it,” Matthew said, a note of desperation in his voice.
    “When?” Robert asked flatly.
    “They just reconvened,” Matthew replied. “I already know of several Republican senators who have drafted a civil rights act that will fight the Black Codes.”
    “And who will enforce them?” Jeremy asked bluntly. “President Johnson seems to not care what the southern governments are doing. He just seems to let them do whatever they want.”
    “I know that’s what it looks like,” Matthew agreed. “I think even our president is appalled with the Black Codes, but he has alienated so much of the North with his policies that his only hope for re-election is southern support.”
    “So that’s what it comes down to?” Carrie asked angrily. “Once again we sell out the rights of an entire people for political gain?” Her voice