Wow, you really just jogged my brain!
Back in the 90's I rented a place from a sweet old lady who was part of John Calhoun's family tree (can't remember the exact relation now). I had seen and been around rich people before, but she was the first (maybe only?) one I had ever really gotten to
know. A few times she actually had me over to her house and we had incredible conversations. It was just a weird random friendship. But I remember her telling me that in her family were handwritten papers by John Calhoun decrying the cotton gin and the threat it posed to the "Southern way of life." Freeing the slaves they already had.. and then being
forced to buy machines that did the same work? It was a major factor stoking the flames of the Civil War.
I miss ol' Claire... also the first person I ever met with a pet goose.
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