From the Blog of Andy Reeder, Age 49

Monday, May 5, 1856.

I cannot believe Richie Rees^1 had the nerve to show up at the committee^2 meeting today. I mean, as if! He probably thinks he’s going to tar my whiskers off like he did Billy Phillips. But there he was, fetching Johnnie Whitfield's^3 whiskey and making it sound like I was bogus! Never had to put up with this back in Easton^4. Thanks a lot, Frankie. You dick.^5

Tuesday, May 6

More witnesses. Johnnie still thinks I’m bogus but I think Shermie and Howie aren't buying it. Morty spent the whole day doodling hearts with his and Johnnie’s name in them. Shermie showed me when he went to the bathroom.^6 Went to a party in the woods, out at Elmore’s. His old lady told me she never cooked before, but her slaves got sick and she had to learn. Now she likes it.^7

Walked home in the dark, by myself, and started thinking about Richie and Bill Phillips again. Then it was like every rock had a bunch of guys behind it waiting to peel off my whiskers with hot tar. Totally not doing that again.

Wednesday, May 7

More witnesses. JL came in and told us that French Sammie^8 got a grand jury to press charges against everybody. Johnnie was on the jury! They’re going to come arrest all of us. This is worse than last time. Nobody puked all over the papers, so it’s for real. Surprised Sammie knows how to spell indictment. ^9 The real Kansas will never love him. It’s all Reeder Town.

Asked Ike^10 and he said they can’t prove anything, but they’re going to lock us up in Lecompton anyway. Talked about it with both Bobs^11 for, like, hours and hours. Realized we can’t hold out on our own. We need to get our leggies together and set up a militia plus courts or they’ll Bill Phillips everyone. Or worse, Chuck Dow^12 us. With our own courts, REAL courts, we can tell them to cut our boys loose and suck it, suckers! Bill Bob is staying in town for that. Chuck Bob is going east to get money and guns.

I’m the hero. Old Andy’s staying around and letting them arrest me. Everybody knows Andy-R! I’m bulletproof. Let ‘em drag me in court and show everyone what dicks they are. Then we’ll go rumble and there won’t be no government but us!

Some little dork called Fain came and tried to serve me. Told him Delegates don’t have to put up with that crap and anyway he misspelled my name.^13 You got served, Fain! On the way out he hit up JL, asked where Chuck Bob was, Topeka? JL told him maybe. Dork asks if it’s safe to go. JL told him good luck with that. Dork peed himself and ran straight back to Lecompton.

Thursday, May 8

Back in Lawrence now. More committee stuff. Fain Dork came and went off to do whatever with Morty. He had a couple of dudes with guns too. After Morty and Dork get done, he comes out and tells me he’s got to take me in. I go “Delegate!” Committee goes “Meh.” ^14

Almost peed myself. WTF, Shermie? Howie? Did Morty get your browser history? But I didn’t let it show. Crossed my legs and told Dork I had privilege and if he wanted to take me, come try it. Not afraid of him.

Checked their tumblr. All reblogs of Andy/Knife in the guts fic. Obvs. their OTP. Andfiguts blows. Andamalia 4 evar.^15 Tweeted French Sammie and Slimy Willy^16 that no way am I going close to them unless all that fic came down.

Getting DMs about Izzy-D^17 putting together a big gang to come rumble. Lots of guys from K-town and ASSitchon^18. Gotta get out of here. Going tomorrow.

Friday, May 9

Slimy Willy told me Andfiguts 4 evar. French Sammie blocked me.

Chuck Bob bailed, like planned. Got in L-man’s ride in his big coat and hat, drove into that ravine and walked to Clark’s. Hide there all day.^19 Howie came and hung for a while. GP^20 says he’s got a boat and can get me over the river, up to Nebraska. Said no. Boats sink. Instead, going to Kansas City.

Saturday, May 10

Had to take the long way and stay off the roads. Total snail mail. Ended up at Fish’s house all night. Hid the car in back.

Sunday, May 11

OMG! They almost found me! Upstairs at Fish’s. Everyone in Kansas and their grandmother came by, even Miltie M’Gee. Got into KC about 2 AM, GP and one of the Eldridges^21 were there. E says to stay in the room, Andiguts shippers across the hall.

Monday, May 12

No sleep. GWB was on a boat that came in. #hangBrownhigh trending.^22 Moved to Room 25. GWB in 28. Whole gang came up to the hotel, with Miltie in charge. Him again! Eldridge thinks they don’t know about me, just GWB. Joke’s on them, they hauled out some other guy named Brown. Wish I could have seen their faces. Dicks.

Cops came and broke it up, but I looked out my window and Miltie was still there. Bunch of guy still watching. GP thinks they want him too. Excuse me? I’m the delegate! Left the lights out all night.

Tuesday, May 13

GWB still here. Chuck Rob got caught in Lexington. They’re taking him back to Kansas. Got rid of GP. Sent him on the first boat with a fake mustache that made him look creepy. Should have taken a pic. He’s going to post a FB check-in for me in Chicago.^23

Would have gone crazy bored stuck up here, but all the guys’ girlfriends came by. Not like that, perv! We just talked about stuff.

Oh crap! Dork Fain is here! OMG WTF! Eldridge freaked, but I told him they can juris my diction. They got Kansas warrants. I’m in Missouri. He said Missouri has cops too. Stupid Eldridge. Told him don’t get in trouble for me. Cleared browser history. Hid phone. Tried to sleep. Not happening. Always people coming and going from their room.

Wednesday, May 14

Eldridge says they only wanted GP and Sammy-P. ^24 GWB left, decided to go back to Lawrence. Got caught by Miltie. Smooth move, GWB.

Moved back to 25 after supper. This room’s meant for the Armes but it’s locked up all day. People wondering. Think I can get out of here if a boat stays the night. No one knows I’m here and I gotta go. With Chuck Rob caught, it’s all on me.

Thursday, May 15

Could live like this. People bring me food, flowers, no one knows anything about me. I’m the Invisible Andy. But if I stay here, it’s all over for Kansas. Missing Amalia and the spawn bad. They must know by know. It’ll be worse when GP gets word to them. Video with our people stopped on the road. #Lawrencemustburn trending.

Friday, May 16

Still here. Wish I put more games on the phone. Got smoked up. Could not get boat.

Saturday, May 17

Eldridge, where are you? Supposed to be back yesterday with news. Ladies having trouble taking care of me. New people suspicious. Moved to 27 so 25 could get cleaned. Think someone saw me. Also heard I was caught at Leavenworth. Suckers.

Every boat comes right by the window. Going nuts. Want to email Amalia so bad. Have to get the word out. May get shipped by Amazon tomorrow. Trying to set it up. Hard to sneak with the moon on bright, but can’t wait.

Heard from Eldridge. Kid sick. Staying with him at Lawrence.

Sunday, May 18.

Conway and Schuyler are right across the hall from me. Don’t know I’m here. Constantly talking about going into Lawrence. Shut up about it already! Amazon might come through.

Midnight. No Amazon.

Monday, May 19

Amazon not here. OMFG. Noon. Amazon didn’t stop. Cancelling Prime. Hope for W. Campbell. Need to get to civilization and email Amalia. Hotel wifi sucks.

Tuesday, May 20

W. Campbell is here! Might get out tonight! Finally!

11:00 AM. Stuck in room for days now. Ladies got me out to 26 to clean. 26 has no lock and maid barged in. Think she saw me. They called her out, but she came back and knocked. Gave up and opened the door for her. Said she’d come back. Ok...but can I trust her? Decided on a bribe. Ed Eldridge thinks she’s solid with the money.

Getting told to give up on the boat. Hired a guy to take me up into Iowa. Told them no way. Hello? That’s like all of Missouri to get through! Hoping for J.M. Converse but about eight the Edinboro comes in, staying all night and it’s dark. This is it! Asked for one of the guys to go out and set things up. He’s in Westport with Chuck Bob. Asked for another. Monroe Eldridge says he’s too afraid. Everyone is gone, sick, or can’t spare a day. FINALLY found a guy. He went and found out the whole boat is from Alabama, talking about how they ship abolitionist/rope and tree. Thought about trying a bribe anyway. Passed.

Wednesday, May 21

One of the ladies knocked while was flapping in the breeze. Had to jump in bed. Hope she didn’t notice. Says Converse got in and it’s all set...if I go to Weston or Lexington. No way! Might as well give myself up. Forty miles to get caught out on. Asked if if she wanted me to cut my throat and bleed a little before I started. ^25 Tried to get a bribe out to bring a boat down. No word on that.

Ed Eldridge brought me a disguise. Asked him how I’m supposed to cram myself into what’s basically a pair of baby booties with delusions of grandeur. What is wrong with people?

Fredrick Law Olmstead travelled around the South and interviewed and observed hundreds of Southerns a few years before the Civil War.

He recorded some Southerners looked around and whispered mildly anti-slavery statements to each other but he didn't come across any that would speak in the open.

He recorded the story of a poor white labourer who got friendly with the blacks and treated them with respect. He was kicked out of town for doing so.

There were stories of censorship of any anti-slavery views but that seemed to be privately driven rather than by the governments. Olmstead took a Ferry ride and observed many Southerners buying an abridged version of Uncle Tom's Cabin. So, clearly some dissenting opinion was allowed.

The New York Times had a travelling journalist who was in the South right before the Civil War. He wrote it was downright dangerous for a Yankee to travel through the South. He wrote their lives were certainly at risk if they spoke out against slavery.

But from what I've read, the main risk of speaking out was being ostracised. I'm unaware if any significant numbers of lynchings or severe punishments. If a black spoke such views, they certainly risked a severe beating or death.