Transcription of a Joint Diary, Kept by Nathan W. Daniels and His Wife Cora … · 2017. 1. 28. ·...
Transcript of Transcription of a Joint Diary, Kept by Nathan W. Daniels and His Wife Cora … · 2017. 1. 28. ·...
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TranscriptionofaJointDiary,
KeptbyNathanW.DanielsandHisWifeCoraL.V.Scott(Hatch)Daniels.
RenderingbasedonapartialtranscriptionbyC.P.Weaver,
completedandeditedbyJohnB.Buescher.
Comprisesthelastentryofvolume2(1865)andtheentiretyofvolume3
(1866-67)ofNathanW.Daniels,Diary,
ManuscriptDivision,LibraryofCongress
December8,1865 WashingtonCity,D.C.
[Nathan]Concludedthismorningthattheeveningshouldfindusmanand
wife—accordinglycalleduponRev’dFatherPierpontandsecuredhisservices,sent
Juliusafterthelicense,andGeorgeaftertheflowers,andcontinuedincompanyto
themarriagefeast,allofwhichwepleasantlyaccomplishedathalfpasteighto’clock.
MydarlingCoraandmyselfenteredthequietandcozylittleparlorofourpresent
home,andwithonlyGeorge,Louise,Julius,Lottie,Mrs.Everett,andFatherPierpont
inthemortalform,withanimmeasurableandgloriousassemblageoftheImmortal
worldpresent,outwardlyunitedintheblissfulbondsofthatstatecalledmatrimony,
which,sincethefirstmeeting,inwardlyhadbeenours.Adelightfulsupperfollowed
andafeastofvenisonandflowofsack.Then—.
[Diaryfor1866]
Boldlyflyingo’erthemountain
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Pausingnearthesparklingfountain
Upthejaggedrockcliffsclimbing
Intheshadydellreclining
Heartandpurpose—allundaunted
Throughtheforestsspirithaunted
Fleetandstrong,quitekind
FreeasGod’sbreathonthemind
UndisturbedbythoughtofFear
Thouartnamed“WingedReindeer.”
Shenandoah
Wednesday,January3rd1866
TravelingfromWashingtontoBostonviaNewYork.
Thursday,January4th1866
LeftWashingtonlasteveningtakingsleepingcarsandarrivedsafelyinNew
Yorkthismorning.Tookomnibusuptownforthepurposeofhuntingupourgood
friendsMr&MrsAnderson,andstrangetosay,wespiedMrAgoinguptown.—It
wasProvidentialaswehadbreakfastedatTaylor'sfeelingimpelledtotakea
particularomnibus&thisonecausedustomeetMrA,asweunfortunatelydidnot
havethecorrectnumberoftheirresidence.—Anotherbuswouldhavemissedhim
&weshouldhavefailedtofindtheirhome,thusbyaspiritualimpressiondidwe
accomplishourwishes.—
Friday,January5th1866
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ToMrAnderson
GleamingdownamidEarth’sdarkness
Thro’theclouds&mist,thatare
Hasteninginitspaththebrightness
Whichilluminesalltheskies
Lo,itsrayslikesunlightarrows
DartingfromthebowofHeaven
‘Prisonedinacellwhichnarrows.
Butitcaresnotwhatisgiven
Forwhentotheearthdescending
It,brightradiancedidpour
So—aboveaLilybending
DidtheStarbeamhovero’er
Bornofheaventheflowersoheavenly
Andgreenpalewithpurestdew,
Bornofheaven,theStarbeamslumbers
UponLily’sbosomtrue.
Shenandoah.
Saturday,January6th1866_________Boston
ToMrsAnderson
Frailasmorningexhalations
FairasheavenlyIncantations
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Lovelyandpure.—
Notthemorning’sgoldensplendor,
NortheEvening’sshadowstender
Fortheeendure.
Butthedew-dropinthebosom
PaleandwhiteasLilyblossom
Reflectsitslight
Everdownwardandthro’theshadows
Likethemoonbeamso’erthemeadows
Comesitsray,bright.
Lilythywhiteleavestremble
Norcanthyheartdissemble
Chastewithlove
FortheetheStarbeamshineth
RoundStarbeamLilyturneth
TruthraysofLove.
Shenandoah.
ReachedBostonlasteveningatduskandweremetattheDepotbyProfes.
Smith.—
VisionseenbyDarlinginDecembershortlyafterourmarriage—“While
sittingwithmyloveenfoldedinhisarmsIsawagoldensphereorGlobesuspended
inmidair.Nearerandneareritcame,thenperceivedthatwhatseemedaUnitor
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GlobewasreallyaUnionofseparateSouls,whosespheresweremerged&blended
intooneperfectwhole.Theinnersoul(thewoman)theouter(theman)andboth
radiatingalightofetherealbeautywhichseemedtofillavastspace[]Isawthat
thiswonderfulvisionwasofourowninteriorsouls,thatourlovewasthus
manifested.FromthecenterofourunitedheartsIsawascrollcomeforthonwhich
wasreadthewords‘ThepoorinhearthaveseenGod,’thenIsawabannerofblue
onwhichwasreadinlettersofgold‘Loveshallredeemtheworld’andasIgazed
enrapturedatandthrilledwiththiswondroussight,Isawthatallourthoughts
becameembodiedinshapesoffairestbeauty,flowersofstarryformandmost
exquisiteodor,birdswithsilverwingsandwingedcherubs,eachoneagod.Thusit
seemedlifewouldbecomeunderthebeautifullightof‘PerfectLove.’”
Friday&Saturday,January12th&13th1866
VisionseenbyDarlinglastDecemberinWashingtonD.C.“Isawmydarling
dressedinUniformbutwithhisswordsheathedandunbelted&hatinhand,
walkingbesideme.—Twolittlechildrenwerewithus.—Avastthrongfollowed
ourfootsteps.—Theyseemedofeveryrace,class,&color&wereshoutingnotesof
Liberty.Bannerswerewaving,drumsbeating.—Itseemedthattherehadbeen
war—thatthestrugglewasover&wehadnowthevictory.Weascendedahilland
gazedaroundonthegatheringmultitude.Aswestoodthereasilencefelluponthe
people—fullofexpectation—andatlastmydarlingspoke.Inwordsofburning
eloquenceheportrayedtheGloriesofwarthruwhichtheyhadjustpassed.Praised
thecouragewhichhadraisedthestandardof“FreedomtoallPeople”againstthe
Usurpers&TyrantswhenLawfulPowerhadledagainstthem.—Pointedtothe
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beauteousland—doublybaptizedinblood—&tothosemonumentsofoppression
(thechurches)&said“nowgoforthtosow,&reap,&gatherforthereisnoneto
forbid,nonetooppress,nonotone.”Long&ferventlyhespoke,andwhenheclosed,
loudshouts&exaltationsrangthruthebluevaultofheaven.Thentheywereonce
moresilent&apowerwithinmespoke—myvoicewasraised&seemedtorollover
theminatideofthought.—ThewordsIknownot,butthethemewasTruth&Love
&thatblessedPeacebornofgreattrouble&conflict.—Thenmidsongs&
rejoicings,Isawthempassawayingroups—overalltheland,nowbeautifulabodes
&templesdedicatedtoart&scienceseemedtospringupasifbymagic.—
Happiness&peacewerethere&allwereblestbeneaththelightofLove,Equality&
Truth.”—
Friday&Saturday,January19th&20th1866
ToMrs.Wilson
Twiningitstendrilsroundthecolumnfair,
Orclimbingo’erthelovelycottagedoor
Itflingsitsstarryblossomsontheair
Andallitswealthoffragrantbloomsdothpour
Roundthespotwherelittlechildrenmeet
Besidethefountorontheslopinglawn
Minglingitsperfumewiththeirlaughtersweet
Andwelcomingwithdewyeyesthedawn
Tho’sweeterodorsmaydelightthesmell
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Noneothergayerflowersforbutaday
Thusbringstheheartthesweetestrecompense,
T’istheClematisbreathesofHomealways.
Shenandoah.
ToMr.Wilson
ThebroadbrightsplendoroftheSun
Isoftencloudedinthemorn
‘Erehalfhissplendidcourseisrun
Thestormkingsoundshisbuglehorn
Therarestconstitutionsoft
Aredimmedbycloudswhichrisefromearth
Andsorrows’shadowsgatherwhere
Sparklethegemsofforestnorth
ButfreefromvainAmbition’sboast
Nonesordidcaresorsorrowsblight
AmongthefirmAngelichost
The“PaleStar”beamsforeverbright.
Shenandoah.
Sunday,January22nd1866
“Vision”seenbyDarlinginWashingtonlastmonth.
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“Isawanaltarcoveredanddrapedwitharichcrimsoncurtainfringedwith
gold.Beneaththealtarwasafountain,whosesilverwatersfilledtheairwithrare
incensemusic—likewarblingsofbirds.IsawmyDarlingthyselfkneelingbesidethe
fountainanditscoolingspraytodescenduponus&fillourviewswithacelestial
lightandallourthoughtsweretunedtothemusicofdivineharmony.Whenthis
baptismwasdone&ascendedtothealtarwhereonaBookofGold—sealedand
clasped.Ononeofthecoverswastheword‘Truth’inraisedletters,ontheother
‘Love’—Mybelovedplacedhisrighthandonthecoverbearingtheinscriptionofthe
firstnamedwordandmylefthandpressedtheoppositeone.Theclasps&sealsflew
openandwefoundburningwordstracedwithin&bothreadinconcerttothe
multitude,whichtillthenwehadnotseen.Iknownotthewords,buttheysound
likegems,wroughtfromtheminesofthought,andthepeoplegatheredthemwith
theirsouls,astheyfellfromourlips&theirfacesfreerradiantinthelightof
knowledge.Evenuntilthevisionceaseddidwecontinuetoread.”
Sunday,February4th1866
PoemgiveninBostonlastTuesdayEveningatthecloseofalectureonbehalf
oftheColoredFreemenofAmerica.
Brightstaroftruth:whereradiantbeams
Shineonthro’cloudsofwoe
Thoughwhoserefulgentsplendorgleams
Aboveallsinbelow
Then—whohastseenthe“Nations”rise
Andperishbythybreath
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ThenwhohastcheeredtheMartyrson
Eveninshame&death,
Theeweinvoke!
Bythatblackhistorywhosepage
Istracedinhumanblood,
Andbytherollingflood
Thereprophet,[]&sage,
Haveforthymandatesstood
Anddiedineveryage,
[]—faminesandsoredistress,
Whichforthysakehavecome,
Whichinthynamehavecome,
Whenthrothelongdarkwilderness
Onceledthychildrenhome,
Andthine,thesighsandgroans,
Theagony&tears,
Theterrors&palefears,
Thehorrorsofthoseyears,
Whichfilledtheworldwithmoans,
Andthine—thedyingtime
Ofvictimsslain—
That[]a[]
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Mustmaketheworldlikethee!
Notthine,butErrors’—Thouwhoselight
MildastheMadonnaofthenight,
Yetflamingisthysword,
Twoedgedastheword.
God,whospeakethfortheright,
Truthweinvokethyaid!
Andye,Oshining[]ones
Payyourowndeedsnowglorified,
Thro’yourownactionsdeified.
Andliftedtothethrone
Whereononlythejustandpure,
Onlythe[]whichshallendure,
Onlythespirits[]whose[],
DarkErrornow[],
Ye,thathavefought&died,
Yesaintsthe“sorelytried,”
Ye,thatstoodsidebyside
WithFreedominhertoils,
Ye,weinvoke!
Lo!Whenyourshiningranksappear
Abovethebattlementsofnight,
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Inrank&filestillfortheright,
BearingthegleamingswordofLight,
Yourlegion’srallyfar&near,
Ledbythemartyredheroesslain,
Ineveryage&clime
Fromeveryshoreoftime,
Thosespiritsnow[]
Bendo’ertheworld[]
Yeweinvoke!
Ledbytheveteranstrong&bold
OfproudAmerica
ThelandofLiberty.
(O,Godwhatmockery,)
Thenobleherogray&old,
Who[]lawfulmurdersold
BecauseofSlavery,
Andyewhofollow—fathers,sons,
Brothers,&friends,arise—
Yewhoweremadethesacrifice
OffoulAmbition!—shiningones—
Yeweinvoke!
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BrightstarofTruth!Thydayisnear
Theworldshallfeelthybreath,
Andallthe[]ofDeath.
Itallasthegrandhostsappear,
WefollowthyCommand,
Weseetheshiningland
OfthatEternalstrand,
Whenthoudostreign,
Andthou!Jehovah—Lordofall—
Weseekthyguidinghand,
Thypotentmagicwand,
ThypowerofLove,thyvoicedothcall
Nomoreerror,norcrimeshallfall,
[]aneternalbroodingpall,
Overthis[]land.
WeseekthyTruthEternally,
WeseektobeforeverFree.
Inseekingthese,wefollowThee!
Tuesday,February6th1866_________Philadelphia
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CameonfromNewYorklastSaturdaynight,metourgoodfriendDr[Henry]
Childsatthecars&wereescortedbyhimto“TheContinentalHotel.”Philadelphia
Sunday.DarlingspokefortheSpiritualistSociety,morning&evening.—Thesubject
intheEveningbeing“TheGodinMan,”ofwhich,thefollowingPoemwasinspired:
VeiledbehindAngelicname
LaythesplendorsofOsiris,
Andtheshadow’dformofIsis.
Allthewondrouspowerproclaim
WhentheEasternDevotee
AndtheGrand&[]Lama
WorshipsattheshrineofBramat.
Lo!theirofferingsareforthee.
WhenthesplendorsoftheEast
[]theTempleoftheSun
ItisbuttheLivingOne
LightinguptheHeavenlyfeast
AlltheagesofthePast.
ConqueredbythesternNemesis,
Nowshallfindtheirtime[]
Guidingthemtotruthatlast
Thisweknow—Thynametobe
ThoutheInfiniteJehovah
Bendingeveryspiritover,
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Lovehassolvedmystery.
Wednesday&Thursday,February7th&8th1866,Burlington,NewJersey
WentouttoourfriendMrsWoolmantospendafewdays.Intheevening,
Shanniecameandgavethefollowing.
ToMrs.Woolman
Shadowedbythebreathofsorrow
Drooping‘neaththecloudsof[]
Asthefloweroftendroopeth
Wherethestormsweepethbefore
Strugglingforthehighesttruest
Longingevertofindrest,
Sothedew-dropsoften[]
E‘entheLily’ssunnybreast
Thro’thevalleyofAffliction
Sothencomeththebrightpromise
Recompenseforsorrow’stears
Angelhandsholdingachalice
Inwhicheverytearmustfall
Bytheirlovetheychangethepearldrops
Intogemsofgloryall.
Andthy[]magicpetals
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[]astrangeandwondrousflower
[]theminacrownofglory
Cheeringnowlife’sdarkesthour.
Gem—bright—golden—pure—&perfect,
Lo,thiscrownisthineownthought,
Whichthesoulshallwearforever
“StarLillies”byAngelswrought.
Shenandoah.
ToMr.Woolman
EachmornthegloryoftheSun
Illumestheearthwithlight
Sheddingamantlebrightandclear
Ofrarestsunbeamsbright
Eacheveningoverhillandplain
Andeveryshrub&flower
Hislingeringlookdothstillremain
Tocheerdays’partinghour.
Whencloudsabovetheearthappear
Likebroodingwingsofsorrow
TheSundotheverstraintogive
Somepromiseforthemorn
Andrendsthedarkandgloomypall
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Withraysoflivingsplendor
Thathemaygivenewhopetoall
Andflashhisglancestender.
Lo,whenthewoesofearthlygrief
Broodo’erthehumanspirit
Thineistheheartwouldbringrelief
Andbidthemtointurit[sic]
Thejoyandhopewhichisthineown
Todriveawayallsadness
Andcheerbydeed&look&[]
Thynameis“BeamofGladness.”
Shenandoah.
Mrs.Woolmanremarkedtheotherevening—“Ifeelthatourspiritfriendsare
nearus.”WhentheInfluencewhichwasShellyrepliedthroughDarling—
“Nearyou”?Yes.EachbreathofHeaven
Waftssomewhispersoftheirlove.
Messagestoyouaregiven
Fromthestarryrealmsabove.
Everymomentistheirpresence
Breathedinsweetestmelody,
Andasoftdeliciouscadence
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Thrillsyoursoulswithharmony.
“Nearyou?”Whenthetwilightshadows
Bendlikebroodingandflutteringwings
Anduponthefieldsandmeadows
Nighthersablemantleflings
Then,Othen,theycomestillnearer,
Closelytoyourformstheypress
Andyoufeelthattheyaredearer
Asthee,giveeachunlitcaress.
“Nearyou?”Yes.Eachwaveofmusic
Risinglikeagoldenchain
Findsresponseinangelbosoms
Andechoesbacktoearthagain—
Bringingsomethingoftherapture
WhichdothfilltheirHeavenlyHome.
Yes—upontheirspiralsoundofarts
Theytheblessedonesevercome.
“Nearyou?”O,thevoiceofprayer
Risingfromyoursoulstonight
Thrillsthewavesofgoldenair
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Withasoftandpuredelight.
Andthebendingformsyoulive
Breathetheirsweetestlovetone,Where
Allyourspiritsjointlyprove
Thentheheartcansay“Amen.”
Shelly.
Friday,February9th1866
LeftBurlingtonyesterday&cameovertoNYtoattendtoadvertisements&c
forourlecturethiseveningatCooperInstituteandDarlingcameoverthismorning.
—Lastnightwewereseparatedanditwasanightoflonelinessandlongingforeach
other—butDollyissohappyaswerebothofus,tomeetagainthismorningthatit
seemedasthoughourshortabsencehadifpossibleheightenedourhappiness.—
Monday,February19th1866________WashingtonD.C.
Remainedinourheavenofhomeallthemorning.Shanniecameandspenta
fewmomentswithus.—WrotearticlerelativetoTheAntiSlaveryStandardand
sentto“TheReligio”[Religio-PhilosophicalJournal]—alsolettertoTheN.[ew]
0.[rleans]TribuneinwhichIsaidthatitwasrumoredthatthePresidenthad
decidedtovetoTheFreedmen’sBureauBill,butthatIdidnotbelievehewouldgo
beforethecountryuponthismeasureashecouldfarmoreeffectuallynullifythe
samebyhisappointments—andthesubstitutionofthesouthernstatemilitiain
placeoftheU.S.forcesasexecutorsofitsprovisions.—Thathewouldalsovetothe
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civilrights&DistofColumbiaSuffrageBills—thatStanton&Harlanweretheonly
membersofhisCabinetthatwouldprotestagainsthisvetooftheFreedmenBureau
Bill—butthatCongresswouldquicklypassthesemeasuresoverhishead.
ThisafternoonwhileSenatorYatesofIllinoiswasmakingasplendidspeech
infavorofgrantingalltherightsoftheAmericancitizentothecoloredman.The
Freedmen’sBureauBillcameinvetoedbyThePresident.Alongmanifesto
accompaniedthedocument,givingthereasonsforhisactions,theprincipleoneof
whichwasthattheBillwasunconstitutional.—Thiscreatedaverygreatsensation
amongthemembersasitwasentirelyunexpected&tookthemallbysurprise.—
Greatindignationwasmanifested&anadjournmentwasimmediatelycarriedfor
thepurposeofcanvassingthematter&preparingforthefightwhichmustcome
tomorrow,astheSenatewilltrytopassitoverthePresident’sveto.—
Nellie&Julius&thebabypassedtheeveningwithusandwehada
verypleasantsociablevisit—canvassedCalifornia&Nevadasilvermines.—
Tuesday,February20th1866
Shanniecamethismorning&saidthatthewarhadbegun.—Thatthe
PresidenthadarrayedhimselfuponthesideoftheConservatives&thathewould
carryoutthesameplanuntilwaragainbreatheditsterriblespiritoverthecountry.
Shesaidalsothatweshouldsoongonorth&thenwestspeakinginbehalfofthe
Freedmen.—Thatweshouldthengosouth—andnottoCaliforniathisyear.—
ThatPresidentJohnsonhaddeterminednottovetotheFreedmen’sBillupto
Sunday.ThatSewardhadopposedthevetouptothattime&hadwrittenthe
documentthataccompaniedthevetoaskingamendmentstotheBill—butthaton
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Sunday,Sewardhadlearnedthattheycouldnotretaintheirsoutherninfluenceif
theBillbecamealaw—changed&wenttothesupportofthePresident’soriginal
intentions—&thenthedecisionwasmadetovetothesame,Harlan&Stantonbeing
theonlyoneswhostoodoutagainstit.ShanniethenreproducedthreePoemsthat
weregiventhe7thofthismonthatMrsWoolman’sinBurlingtonNewJersey.She
alsosaidthatthevillainwhowasdoggingSenatorHowardwouldbeintheSenate
chamberagaintoday&thatifwewenttothesameplacethathewasinbeforewe
wouldfindhim.—CorawroteMrsWoolman&enclosedthepoemsgiventhis
morning.
Mydarlingwife&myselfwentuptotheSenatethisafternoon,foundthe
chamberjammed,thedoorways&everyavenueliterallypackedwithpeopleasthe
excitementoverthevetoisintense&peopleseemtosensethecomingconflict.—
Managedaftermuchsqueezingtoeffectanentrance&throughthepolitenessof
Judge[JohnFitch]KinneyofUtahsecuredaseat.—GarrettDavis[D-Kentucky]was
readingadryharangueinfavorofthePresident’sveto&againsttheBill.Afterhis
inflictinganhourofhisstupidityupontheSenate,heclosedandSenator[Lyman]
Trumbull[R-Illinois]arose&forthreehoursspokeinsupportoftheBureau&ina
masterlymannershowedthatthePresident,accordingtohisownargument,wasin
thewrong—thatifhisdoctrinesweretrue,hewasnothimselfconstitutionallythe
PresidentofTheUnitedStates—thattheBillwasconstitutional—thatitwasa
savingofgreatexpensetotheGov’tinsteadofaburdenedthatitwasanecessityin
thepresentbelligerentandhostileconditionofthecountry.
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At5o’clockheconcluded&thenavotewastakeninwhich30senators
votedinfavorofthebillnotwithstandingtheveto—and18againstandthustheBill
waslostandthePresidenttriumphed.—SixRepublicanSenatorsconsigned
themselvestoeverlastingInfamybytheirfailuretosupportthemeasure—These
wereMr[EdwinD.]Morgan[R-NewYork]—[JamesR.]Doolittle[R-Wisconsin](he
neverdidless)—[James]Dixon[R-Connecticut],[Edgar]Cowan[R-Pennsylvania],
[DanielS.]Norton[R-Minnesota]and[WilliamM.]Stewart[R-Nevada].—Great
excitementwasmanifestedinthegalleries,somuchsothattheyhadtobecleared,
immediatelyafterwhichtheSenateadjourned.—WmLloydGarrisonwas
prominentamongtheaudienceinthecoloredgalleryandIhopethatnowheis
convincedthatthePresidentandCongressarenotentirelytobetrusted&that
thereisstillneedoftheAntiSlaveryorganization.—Amongtheinteresting
episodes—whileTrumbullwasspeakinghewasinterruptedbyCowanofPenn,
withthequestionof“WhatcoursewouldyoupursuetowardRebelswhohadlaid
downtheirarms?”“Hangthem,iftheywereTraitors”respondedTrumbull.—This
broughtdownthegalleries&foramomenttherewasgreatenthusiasm&Joy.—
Thiswillcastagloomoverthecountryequalifnotworsethanthatwhichfollowed
thefallofSumpter—&isthefirstblowoftheconflictthathasbeensooften
predictedistoagaincomeinthiscountrybetweenthearmedforcesofJusticeand
Error.—
Wednesday,February21st1866
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WentuptotheSenateChamberthismorningbutfoundacopperhead
Senatorreadingadull&boringspeechinfavorofThePresident’sveto.—The
LegislaturesofthedifferentstatesarepassingResolutionsinsupportoftheRadical
membersofCongress&condemningthePresident’sveto.Republicanpapersall
overthecountryarefollowingthesamecourse—aUniversalcryofcondemnationof
MrJohnsoncomesthisfarfromtheRepublicanpartyallovertheland—whilstthe
copperheadpress&party—arerising&sustaininghisaction—sothewarhas
fairlybegun.—
ThiseveningMr&Mrs[GilesB.]Stebbins,MrsFrancisD[ana]Gage,Miss
ClaraBarton,&Mr[EberB.]WardofDetroit,cameup&spenttheeveningwithus.
—Theyareallnotablesintheirway,anditwasaveryinterestingoccasion.—After
aninterestingconversation,mydarlingwasentrancedand[Theodore]Parkercame
andgaveusanhourofhiswonderfulprophecyandpredictions.—Hesaid—
Thestruggleissurelycoming&youmaypreparefortheworst.Therewillbe
difficultybetweenThePresident&Congress&‘erelongwarwillexist.Sen[Jacob
M.]H[oward,R-Michigan]—WillthePresidentvetotheFreedmen'sBureauBill?
Ans—HewishesathearttodosobutisnotsustainedbyallhisCabinet—wedonot
thinkhewilldaretogobeforethecountryagainstthatmeasure—stillifhethinkshe
candosowith[impunity?],hewill.Buthecaneffectuallynullifyitinthe
appointments&atpresenthedesirestoactdiscreetly.—SenH—IsMrLincoln
here?&canhetellanythingaboutaconversationhehadwithMr[JohnBrown]
BaldwinofVa,Apr3rd‘61?—SenatorHowardthenrelatedthetestimonyofBaldwin
&othersuponthatsubject.—Ans—Yesheisherestandingbyyourside&hishand
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isonyourshoulder.Herememberstheconversationwell&says“Senator,Inever
offeredabribetoTreason.IdidsaytoMrBaldwinthatifhewouldgotoRichmond
&causetheconventionthereassembledtogohome,Iwouldnotsendsupplies&
ammunitionorprovisionsofanykindtoFortSumpteruntilitwasabsolutely
necessary,eventothepointofstarvation.Iwoulddothistoavoidanyirritationto
thepeopleofthesouth—butInevercouldwithdrawthegarrisonseitherfromFort
SumpterorPickens.”SenH.—ThisistheanswerofMrLincoln?Ans—Yes,and‘tis
thetruth.Heassuresyouthatyoumayrelyonitscorrectness.—(Theconversation
thenturnedonForeignaffairs)SenH—IsthereanydangerofawarwithFrance?
Ans—nottheleast.—TheSecretaryofStateistoowilyforthat.Heapprovesofthe
existingstateofaffairs.—SenH.—IstheInfluenceinformedwhetherMrSeward
evergaveanyspecialpledgesorsentanyprivatemessengerstoEuropeinthe
beginningofourwar&pendingtheoccupationofMexico?—Ans—Weareaware
thathedidmakesuchpledgesofneutralityaswouldjustifytheoccupationof
MexicobytheFrenchandwethinkhesenttwomessengerswhosenameswewill
ascertain&reveal.—Thecountryhasbeenbetrayedbythissubtle&unprincipled
Demagogue&thetestimonywillyetberevealedtoproveit—wewillascertainthe
facts&thenmakethemknowntoyou.
Aftersomefurtherconversationofapersonalcharacterreferringtothe
dangeroftheSenatorbecauseofhisinquiresconcerningJeffersonDavis,&a
statementthathewaswiseinchanginghisrooms&warninghimthatsuchofthe
President’splans,hislifethatofothersenatorswhowereRadical&membersare
threatened—&theinfluenceleft.
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ShanniesaidinthepresenceofSenatorHowardandaladyfriend,thatithad
beenascertainedthatoneofthemessengerswhomMrSewardspeciallydeputised
tocarryoutnegotiationsofneutralitywas“themanwithabigcross,”meaningArch
Bishop[John]Hughes.ThathehadampleinstructionstotreatwiththeEmperorof
theFrench&thePope—thattheothernameswouldberevealedonThursday
eveningFeb22nd-TheinfluencerepeatedthesubstanceofMrLincoln’s
conversationwithMrBaldwin,&whenaskedifherememberedhavingany
conversationwithMr[John]BottsofVirginiaafewdaysafterthesaidApril3rd1861,
herepliedyes,&thathetoldMrBottsinsubstancewhathehadsaidtoMrBaldwin.
SenH.—HowlongaftertheinterviewwithBaldwindidyouseeBotts?Ans—
abouttwodays—no,itmusthavebeenlonger—itwasaweeknearly,forthe
vesselshadalreadysailed,whichweretoprovisionFortSumpter&Icouldnotthen
makeBottsthesameofferthatIdidMrBaldwin,thoughItoldhimwhatIhadsaid
tothelatter.—SenH.—DidMrLincolnkeepanyrecordofthoseconversations?
Ans—Yes,hesays.Itisinmypocketmemorandum—Iwroteitmyself.—Itmustbe
amongmypapersathomewithmywife—writeherforthememorandumofthat
date—Iamsureitisthere,writeher.—Theinfluencethenproceededtostatethat
theprivatemessengerswhomMrSewardsenttoEuropeasspecialDiplomatswere
ArchBishopHughes,ThurlowWeed,andlaterGen’lGeorgeB.McClellan.Thatto
thesepersonshegaveprivateparticularinstructions...&thatthefirstconveyedthe
messagetotheEmperoroftheFrench&PopeofRome—“Ifyouwillremainneutral
wewillnotopposeanyschemesyoumay
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SenH.—DidanyofthesepartiescarrywrittendispatchestotheFrench
ministerorothersinpowerorauthority?Ans—ArchBishopHugheshadwritten&
verbalInstructionsbuttheyareinaccessibleandassafeinthearchivesofthe
RomanChurchastho’theywereburiedbeneaththePyramidsofEgypt.—Heisthe
onlyonewhomMrSewarddaredtoentrustwithwrittendispatches—norwere
thesetotheminister,buttoTheEmperor&Popeinperson.—Totheothershe
gaveaCarteBlanchesayingsimply,Iwillberesponsibleforthefulfillmentofthe
promisesandnegotiationsmadebythesegentlemen.Hepromisedneutralityand
gaveinstructionsthatthisgovernmentwouldnotobjecttotheestablishmentofa
RomanCatholicMonarchinMexico.Ofcoursetheseprivatenegotiationswould
neverberevealedexceptincaseofwar.—Butwoeuntothemanwhohasthus
betrayedthetrustofthisnation.SenH.—DoesGen’lMcClellanhold
correspondencewiththePopeatthepresenttime?Ans—Hehaslatelybeenin
Rome&isnowinactivecommunicationwiththePapalPower.—Thestronghold
whichthatpowerhasgainedinMexicoleadsthemtohopeforanincreaseof
influenceinthesestates,andMrSeward’sloveofIntriguewouldprompthimto
favortheestablishmentofsuchagovernmenthere.Theinfluencethenproceeded
towarnthesenatorthatthePresidentcontemplated&wouldattempthigh-handed
measuresagainsttheloyalmajoritiesinCongressiftheypersistedinrefusingseats
tosouthernmembers—thattosecuretheadmissionofthesesouthernstates,
especiallyTennessee,washispetidea&hewouldnothesitatetoadoptany
measurestoitsfulfillment.—HopingtobesustainedbytheDemocratsofthenorth
&southernsympathizersallovertheland—thathispolicywastovetoevery
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measureintendedfortheameliorationoftheFreedman’scondition¬accept
anyactionofCongresscoveringthestatesinRebellion.—Thathewouldas
CommanderinChiefofthearmydeclareCongressoritsRadicalmembersin
Insurrection&attemptbyforceofarmstodrivethemfromthecouncilsofthe
nation.Thatwar,bitter&relentless,wascominginwhichthefreenorth&its
Congress&thefreecoloredpeopleofthesouthwillbeononeside&the
governmentofAndrewJohnson—thesoutherntraitors,northernDemocrats,
Fenians&theCatholicchurchontheother,butFreedomshallatlastprevail.
QuesbyMrBacon—isGen’lGranttruetothenorth?Ans—Heis,ofthiswe
aresure,notwithstandinghisDemocraticantecedents.Hisheartisrightand
furthermoreadivisioniscomingbetweenhim&theExecutive,whichwillthrow
himintothearmsofthenorthandhewillespouseitscause.—SenH—Whatof
Sherman?Ans—Hewillbeonthesideofthesouthandwillbeoneoftheleadersof
theGov’tagainsttheFreedmenQues.byColD[aniels]—AreyousureGrantwillbe
allright?Ans—Yes,wearesure—alreadythereissomedifficultybetweenhim&
ThePresident,hecannotremainlonger.Bearinmindallwehavesaid&be
preparedfortheworstasthesearenoimaginationdreamsbutstemrealities.Ques.
byCol.D—IstheInfluencestillcertainthatthePresidentwillattempttocontrol
Congressbyforceofcrisis?Ans—wearecertainthatishispurpose,unlessCongress
checkmateshimbyanImpeachmentwhichwefeartheycannotdo,astheSenateis
notstrongenough.IftheRadicalspersist(whichtheywill)inkeepingoutthe
southernmembers.ThePresidentactingundertheadviceofsouthernRebels&
northernDemocrats,willattemptwhatwehavepredicted&wethinkitwilloccur
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withinthreemonths.Suchishispresentdesign—Butwemustclosefortonight
commendingwhatwehavesaidtoyourwisdom&judgment.
Thursday,February22nd1866
ThefuneralorationofThelateHenryWinterDavisisbeingpronouncedto
dayintheHouseofRepresentativesbyTheHon.J[ohn]A.J.Creswell,theSenator
fromMaryland,andallthecelebritiesofthenationaresupposedtobepresent—
thatisalltheloyalelement,asthecopperheadsareholdingagrandpow-wowat
Grover’sTheatre&inthestreetsnearthesame.Jubilatingovertheaccessionto
theirranksandtheinfamousTylerismofAndyJohnson.—
AdjourningfromtheTheatre,themotleycrewofsecesh—copperheads,
ConservativeRecreantRepublicans,andallthehotchpotchthatgotomakeupthe
untempered&unwashedDemocracy—wentuptoTheWhiteHouse.Aftera
considerableamountofnoisetheysucceedinbringingoutthePresident,andhe
makesaspeechpraising&endorsingthedemocraticproslaveryResolutionthat
theybringhim,claimingthattheRadicalpartyareRevolutionary.—ThatCharles
Sumner,Stevens,&WendellPhillipsaretheotherendoftheline,thattheyareas
treasonableaswere[Jefferson]Davis,[John]Slidell&[Robert]Toombs,&thatthey
must&shouldbesuppressed.—Thatthesouthernstatesweretodayintheunion
&thattheirRepresentativesmustbeadmittedtoCongress&c&c—allsenseless
andvapidastheharangueofadrunkenfool—anditisnotbyanymeanscertain
thatsuchwasnothisphysical&mentalconditionatthattime.—Thecrowdhelloed
andcheeredtotheirheartscontent,satisfiedthattheynowhadMrJohnsoninfull
democraticcommunion&thatinhisaccessiontotheirranks,theconfederacyhad
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accomplishedbyTylerised,Recreancy&Treasonwhatitcouldnotdoinafouryears
ofbloodywarfare,andthattheSouthwasindeedtriumphant,asWendellPhillips
hassotrulyproclaimed.—
Ontheotherhand,MrCreswell’sorationwasasplendideffortandbecoming
thesuccessorinRadicalprinciplesthathetrulyisofthelamentedDavis—atone
endtheavenueloyaltyandPatriotism—attheotherTreason,Treacheryand
Infamy.—SenatorHowardcamethiseveningandafterapleasantvisitmydarling
wascontrolledby[Theodore]Parker,andthefollowingwasgiven—.
Friday&Saturday,February23rd&24th1866
[Cora]ThiseveningwassetapartbyMr[GeorgeA.]Bacon&ourselvesto
addresstheColoredpeopleofthiscityinoneoftheirchurches(theAsburyM.E.)
&ithasprovedanoccasionofthedeepestinteresttoallwhowerepresent.The
churchwascrowdedineverypart&doubtlessmanywereunabletogain
admittance.MrBaconwasfirstintroduced&spokeconcerningthe"present
conditionsoftheSouth”prefacinghisremarksbyabeautifulpersonal
explanationoftheFraternitybetweenhimself&thecoloredraceavowinghis
determinationtocontinuehislaborsintheirbehalf.Hecontinuedbyreading
carefullyselectedparagraphsgleanedfromtheleadingJournalsoftheday,
showingthehostilityoftheSouthernpeopletowardsthenegroes,interspersing
&closinghisaddresswithnoblewordsinbehalfofFreedom.
Mydarlinghusbandnext&addressedthemonthe“Rights,Qualifications
&NecessitiesoftheColor’dFreemenofAmerica”relatinghispersonal
experienceamongthemasacitizen&soldier-declaringthattheirRightswere
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thesameasourown&theirqualificationsequal,orcapableofbecomingso
thro’afullpossessionoftheirRights.–[He]depictedinglowingtermsand
wordsofpraisetheheroismofhisregiment(colored)uponthebattlefield&
recitedmanyhorribleinstancesofatrocitieswhichhavebeen&arebeingdaily
committedupontheseunfortunatepeoplebytheReconstructedTraitors&slave
holdersinthesouth.EnteredhisindignantprotestagainstanyGovernment...
thatwouldpermitsuchthingstoexist&finallyclosedbyagrandallusiontothe
strugglewhichiscominginwhichtheColor’drace&theFriendsofFreedomwill
bearray’dononeside,andapervertedGovernment-ledbyafalse&perjured
Executiveontheother-declaringthattheoppressed&downtroddenchildren
ofAfricawouldbecomethesavioursofournation&itsLiberties!Hisremarks
wererec’dwithgreatfavorandapplausebytheaudiencemostofwhomwere
colored.
[Nathan]Thenmybeloved,mytruehearteddarlingwife,addressedthe
audienceandinwordsoflivingfirerenouncedthepolicyoftheAdministration,
condemningMrJohnsonandallwholikehimsacrificeprincipletopolicy.[She]said
thatthefactsofthehorribleconditionoftheirracehadbeenportrayedtothemby
theprecedingspeakersandthatnowtheyshouldmakesuchevidencetheinspiring
AngelwhoshouldleadthemoutoftheirpresentconditiontooneofLiberty&
Freedom.ThattheAdministrationhadalreadybeganthewar“ofraces”andthat
whentheopposingforcesfoundthattheywereequallybalanced,intheend,each
blackmanwouldbesoughtandhisstrongarmrequiredtoagainsavethenation
fromdestruction.—Thenwillbeginawar—asMrJohnsonhadpredictedawar
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30
inauguratedbyhisownhand,andoneinwhichFreedom&Justicewillsurely
triumph,drivingthisapostate“Moses”ofthecoloredracewhohasprovedtheir
“Pharoah”intotheRedSeaofhisownInfamy,whilethehandofHeavenpartsthe
wavesfortheoppressed&downtroddentopassthrough.—Thenshallwefindthe
Savioursofourcountryanditscherishedlibertiesintheheretoforeenslaved
millionsofthesouth&thenwilltheyJoinhandswiththeirnobledefenders&strike
thedeathblowtotreason&slavery.MuchmorewassaidthatIhavenotroomfor
here—andtheapplausewascontinuousanddeafening.
[Cora]Atthecloseoftheabovenamedaddress,someonearoseinthe
audience&announcedthepresenceofRobertPurvis,esqofPhila,oneofthe
championsofFreedomforhisraceandamostintelligent,accomplished&
eloquentspeaker.Hewascalledforbytheaudience&inspiredbythe
enthusiasmalreadyexisting,hespokeintermsofrarepraiseofthewordshe
hadlistenedtoandborethewholeassemblageonthehighwaveofHuman
Freedomwhichwassurgingaroundus.Hespokebrieflybuttothepoint.
ReferringtotheExecutivehesaidthathewasnotthe“Moses”oftheirrace.
Theyrefusedtoaccepthimassuch.HehadneverbelievedinAndrewJohnson’s
Fidelitytotheircause.He(Johnson)hadsimplyLied!Hethencomparedthe
turningoftherodintoaserpentinancientdayswiththepresenttimebutsaid
therodwhichAndrewJohnsonheldhadbeenturnedbySatanintoaSerpentof
the“Copperhead”species!Heurgedthemtoformanorganizationof“Black
Fenians”toarm,drill&prepareforthefight--andtobeinspiredbythesame
spiritwhichisexpressedintheMarseillesHymn,“LibertyorDeath.”Thehearts
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ofthevastconcourseechoedhiswordsasdidtheirvoices-LibertyorDeath!He
closedamidatumultofapplauseandafteravoteofthanks,themeetingclosed
amidtheeverinspiringstrainsof“JohnBrown”&thecheersofthepeoplewho
nowknowthemeaning&havetastedsomeofthefruitsofFreedom&are
determinedtoobtainitordie!-
[Nathan]WrotelettertoAntiSlaveryStandarddescriptionofthescenein
theSenateuponthedayoftheveto&alsoonetoNewOrleansTribuneonsame
subject.—
Sunday,February25th1866
[Nathan]ThePressandPeoplealloverthenorthcondemnMrJohnsonin
mostdecidedterms&recognizehimnowasonanEqualitywith[Jefferson]Davis&
hishordeinInfamyandTreason.MrSeward,theMephistophelesofthe
Administration,wenttoNewYorknightbeforelasttomarshallandengineerthe
greatmassmeetingthatwasgottogethertosupporttheAdministration.—Loand
beholdtheassemblagewascomposedofthatclassknownasshoulderhitters—
business—&thekindofmaterialthatusuallygoestomakeupNewYork
Democraticmeetings.—TheRepublicanPartydidnotandwouldnotsustainit,and
foronceMrSewardfoundhimselfamonghiskind—onthesameplatformwiththe
unwashedandtheuntempereddemocracy.—Theoccasionwaspronounceda
failureandMrSewardcamebacktoWashingtonawiserifnotabetterman.—
HenryWardBeecher,howevergoesthewholefigure,hasbeenboughtupbySeward
—andswallowsAndyJohnson,Reconstruction,Treason,andall—Godsavehimfor
theAmericanpeopleorhisprinciplesneverwill.—
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32
WewereinviteddowntoMr[Giles]StebbinslastnighttomeetWmLloyd
Garrison&othercelebritiesbutcouldnotgoonaccountoftheinclemencyofthe
weather.—GarrisonlecturedhereFridaynightandsomewhatchangedhistuneof
“Libertyvictorious”ashepitchedunceremoniouslyintothePresident—sustained
Congress—andotherwiseshowedhimselftobetheGarrisonofhispalmydays.
MydarlingwifeaddressedtheSpiritualistsofWashingtonthismorningupon
“Children’sRights,”apleafortherisinggeneration.Theaudiencewaslargeand
intelligentandthelectureveryinteresting.Shebeganbyshowingtheimperfections
ofthepresentsystemofeducationwherethechildissubjectedtothelawofforce,
havinghislessonsdrilledintohisheadinsteadofitsbeingmadeasourceof
pleasureandentertainment,whereinthemasterorparentsendsthechildtoschool
moreforthepurposeofriddingthemofthetroubleofhispresence.Subjectsthem
tothecareofirresponsibleignorant&immoralnursesandguardians,forcedthem
todopenancebysittingsixhoursoutofthetwentyfouronahardbench,drilling
awayatmustyandunintelligiblelessons—placedthelittlebudsinahothouse&by
theforcingsystemtomakethembrightandshinylights—subjectedthemto
restraint,curbing&imprisonment,notgivingtheirlittlebodiesormindsan
opportunityofproperexpansion—crushingbacktheirmentalandphysicalsystems
onthepleathatchildrenshouldnotbetooforward,andinfactdoingJustwhatthey
shouldnotdoiftheywish,healthy,intelligentandbeautifulchildren.Shethen
sketchedineloquentlanguagethemodeofeducationthatwasbestadaptedtotheir
materialandspiritualwelfare,citingthemethodofobjectteachingasanexcellent
one,forinstanceachairistaken,thekindofwoodofwhichitismade,itsuses,the
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place&soilwhereverthewoodgrows,themachinerybywhichitismade&c&c—
allinterestingtothechild,instructinghimthoroughlyandatthesametime
affordinghimamusementandnotmeanness.Thenagainselectyourteachersfrom
thosewholovechildren—&awoman“asitissupposedtheyhavemoretime&can
behiredathalfprice,”onewhoisspirituallyendowedandwhowilltakethe
childrenonasummer’sdayintotheforest&alongthebrookdiscoveringuponthe
beautyandteachingsofnature,takingtheflowers,thesunnybrook,theelms&
pebbles,thetrees,birds&allnatureforhertext—andthusbythesimpleyet
beautifulmethodofobjectteaching.Instructthoroughlyandwithoutfatigueinone
day,whatinthemodernmanneritwouldtakesixmonthstoaccomplish.—She
thenclosedbyabeautifuldescriptionofthechildrenintheangelworld,their
teachingsandtheirbrightabode.—Theaudienceweredeeplyinterestedand
sympathizedfullywiththespeaker.—AmongthesameInoticedMrsFrancesD.
Gage,wholecturestomorrownightatSeatonHallupon“LifeonTheSeaIslandsand
EmancipatedLabor”—shepresenteduswithcomplimentarytickets,soIsuppose
wemustgo.—
[Cora]WhiletakingalittlereposethisP,Ihadamostsingular
dreamorvision,whichmadesuchanimpressiononmymindthatIrecord
ithere.Itseemedthatmyhusbandwaswithmeinsomeruralplace,a
countrytown,wherewehadbeenvisitingtheirschools&addressingthem.
Asweweregoingtoourplaceofabodeinthetwilighthour,Iglanced
towardtheeast&sawabrightlighttracetheoutlinesofaform.Itwasan
oldmanleaninguponastaff.Slowlythefiguredescended&passedfrom
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34
oursight.Iaskedwhatcanitmean,mycompanionsaid,‘Tisasign,andthe
nextonewillshowwhetherwearetohavepeaceorwar.
WewatchedtheplaceintheHeavenswheretheSignappeared&soon
perceivedaSecondlight.Itcameasdidthefirst,bright&larger,untilwecould
distinctlyseethefigure.ItwasanArcherlikeoneofthesignsoftheZodiac,with
thebodyofaHorse&thehead&shouldersofaman.Thefigureheldabow&
arrowdrawnforafight.“Thismeanswar”saidmyhusband.Thefiguredidnot
disappearasdidthefirstbutremaineduntilIwoke.Thismaybeamusedream,
butIfeelthatithassomebearingontheunfortunatestateofourCountry.-We
shallwatchforthesign.
[Nathan]Mrs[ElizaWoodson]Farnhamcamethiseveningandinfluenced
mydarlingandgaveheradmirableLectureupon“Woman.”TheHousewasfulland
theaddressgavegreatsatisfaction.—
Monday,February26th1866
[Cora]ThismorningShanniecame&wrotealongtimereproducingthe
conversationbetween[Theodore]Parker&Sen.Howard,alsogivingthe
“Singingwords”inwhichtheSenatorrec’dhisSpiritualname.Itwas“Rockof
Truth”whichwethinkmostappropriate.
[Nathan]WentuptotheSenateChamberandsawSenatorHoward,gave
himtheminutesof[Theodore]Parker’scommunicationandShannie’sPoem.Then
wentupintotheGentlemen’sgallerywhereIfoundaman—aonearmedspecimen
ofassassinansweringthedescriptionoftheonethatwasrepresentedbyParkeras
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35
doggingSenatorHoward.—IimmediatelynotifiedHoward&weputadetectiveon
histrack.
IthenwentovertotheHousewhereIsawBeauman[ofMich.]andgavehim
ticketforthelectureforthemembers.—MetGen’l[NathanielPrentice]Banks&in
conversationwithhimhesaidthatincaseitcametoaconflictofarms,thearmy
wouldnotbewithWendellPhillips.Irepliedithadbetterbewithhimthanthe
President.Heansweredthathethoughtitwouldbewithneither—thatallmilitary
historywenttoshowthatthearmywasalwaysforthearmyandthatsuchwouldbe
thecaseinthecomingconflict.LearnedfromMr.MerchantthathehadputSenator
[Henry]Wilson’s[R-Massachusetts]brother,whoisaspecialdetective,onthetrack
ofthemiscreantwhohavebeenpointedouttousasthewouldbeassassinof
SenatorHoward,sothatweshallnowseewhatwillbecomeofit.—
[Cora]ThiseveningweattendedalecturedeliveredbyMrs.FrancesD.
Gage,oneoftheoldest&ablestworkersinthefieldofReform,aneloquent&
earnestspeaker,atalentedwriterandathoroughlaborerinbehalfof
Humanity.-HersubjectwasherexperienceontheSouthSeaIslandswherein
theyear‘63theexperimentofFreeLaborwastriedamongthenegroes&onthe
plantationsabandonedbytheRebels&capturedbyourforces.-Thesubjectwas
prolificofinterestandshemadeeverypointavailable.Gaveabeautifultribute
toGen’l[Rufus]Saxtonwhocommandedtheforcesatthattimeandinthat
Department.Gaveminutedetailsofthecondition&abilitiesofthelowestclass
ofplantationslaves,andgaveotherofherexperiences&travelsinconnection
withthesubjectofEmancipation&closedwithamostgloriousperorationon
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Liberty.Itwasaveryperfectlecture&theage,earnestnessandthetrue
humanityofthespeakerrenderedherutterancesmostimpressive.Weboth
enjoyeditmuchandwouldnothavemisseditfortheworld.Theaudiencewas
large&appreciative-membersofcongress&manynotedpersonswerepresent.
Wenoticedspeaker[Schuyler]Colfax,Mr.Julian(MrC),FatherPierpont,Clara
Barton&othersontheRostrum.RobertPurviswasintheaudience-allwere
delighted&sheheldthemfortwohours.
‘Tisglorioustofindthatthosenoblewomenwhohavetoiledsolongin
behalfoftheSoutharenowreceivingtherewardoftheirlabors&insteadof
sneers&jibesandsocialostracism.[They]arenowsoughtafterbytheproudest
intheland,whobringlaurelstolayattheirfeet-whilethousandswhomtheir
effortshavedisenthralledsingtheirpraises!SuchaoneisFrancesD.Gage.
Tuesday,February27th1866
[Cora]ThismorningIwasinfluencedbythatmostpowerfulcontrolwho
Shannietellsusis[William]Wilberforce-certainly‘tisamostabsorbing&
overpoweringinfluence.-Hecametotellmydarlingsomethingwhichhewill
writehere-
[Nathan]Thattherewasaplanafootamongcertainrowdyandsecesh
charactersinthecitytocreateadisturbancethiseveningattheLecture,butthat
theywoulddiscoverwhentherethattheaudiencewouldnotpermitany
interferences&thatconsequentlytherewouldinallprobabilitybenodifficulty,but
thatitwouldbewellenoughtobepreparedforanyemergency.—Thatthe
dispositionofthepeoplewasagainstus&thatiftheydared,theywouldsoonputus
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outoftheway.—Thathehadmuchtotalkwiththembutdidnotsupposehewould
gettheopportunity.
[Cora]Shannieafterwardswrotesome“Singing”wordsforMrsWhelpley
&MrKnoxgivingtheirSpiritualnames-thatofMrs.Wwas“MeadowLark”and
MrKnoxwasnamed"CaveofSilence."Hadweroomheretheywouldbe
transcribedbuttheywillperhapsbepublishedandplacedintheScrapbook,to
whichoftentimesweshallrefer.
[Nathan]MydarlingwasinfluencedthiseveningbythespiritofTheodore
Parker,whohadpreviouslyannouncedthathewoulddeliveralectureuponthe
Apostate—andaddressedalargeintelligentandappreciativeaudience.Previous,
however,tothelecture,theMozartband,allcolored,favoreduswithabeautiful
chant,“AbouBenAdim,”whichtheyrenderedinaveryeffectiveandenchanting
style.ThenParkercameandbeganwiththerelationofhisgoingtoEurope,his
experiencewhilstthere.Hethenmostbeautifullypicturedthebirthandlifeof
“MosesRemoses”andhisfinallyleadingtheIsraelitesoutofEgypt,relatingthat
MoseswasintruththesonofthedaughterofPharaoh&thatthetaleofthenurse
beinghismother,wasanEgyptianstoryforthepurposeofconcealingtheshameof
theRoyalHouse&thatMoseswasindeedthedescendentofPharaoh&therefore
entitledtojustsomuchmorecreditforhisnobility&goodnessofcharacter.Hethen
tookupAndrewJohnson,tracedhislifeupfromhisbirthinNorthCarolinatothe
present,statingthathehadallthenarrowprejudice&bigotry&hatredofthenegro
thatcharacterizesthepoorwhiteofthesouth&thattheywerejustasmuchin
existencetodayaswhenheroamedapoorboythevalesofTennessee—andhe
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cametohislifeinTennesseewhenhepromisedtobetheMosesoftheNegroes—
andmostbeautifully[]thequestionofapostacybyclaimingthatatthisperiod,and
wastheapostateasheapostatisedfromthemeannessand[]ofhisfirmantecedent
&education—thatinasmuchashepromisedandperformedfortheNegrorace,just
somuchdidheapostacisefromhispast[]andlife.Hethenshowedthepenalties
thatintheCatholicChurchattendedapostasy—andmadetheapplicationtothe
President’scase.HethentookupThePresident’slateaction&speechquotingthe
Insurrectionarypartwhichproclaims[Charles]Sumner,[Wendell]Phillips&
[Thaddeus]StevensTraitors&saidthatSumnerwastheBugleCalleroffreedom,
StevenstheoldwarhorseofLiberty,andPhillipsthegoldenEaglewhosepinions
hadneverbeentouched.HealsosaidthattheEpitaphofJohnsonshouldbeas
follows,uponablackmonumentinlettersofRed,thedeclarationthathehadmade
tofreedom,&theninwordsoflivinglight,hisfakepromises&[]speeches,&then
thewhole[]in[].
Wednesday,February28th1866
[Cora]WrotethismorningtotheRichmondsinans.toaletterrec’da
monthago.Mydarlingwasalsowriting.JusthadtogooutearlytoseeMr.
Stebbinsaboutthehallinwhichtorepeatthelectureoflastnighttomorrow
evening.IdressedmyselfandwenttocallonMrs.Stebbinswheremyhusband
metme.Ihadadelightfulcallandfindatrue&sincerefriendinMrs.S.—We
attendedintheSenatetoday&heardaportionofaveryablespeechbySenator
NyeofNevada.Itisoneofthebestspeechesofthesession.WentfromtheCapitol
todine&spenttheeveningwithJuliusandNellie.Thebabyisflourishingfinely.
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Wehadaverycozytimeandwefeltverymuchpleasedwithourvisit.Wemuch
wishthattheyhadroomforusthere,asweenjoytheirsocietymorethan
anyoneinthecity.
[Nathan]Lastnight[Theodore]Parker,throughmydarling,againpredicted
thatwewereontheeveofamostterriblewarandthatbutafewdayswouldelapse
‘erethePresidentproclaimedthesouthernstatesintheUnionandforcedatthe
pointofthebayonetthesouthernRepresentativesintoCongress.—Thenwould
comebloodywarandfinallyheclosedwithagrandthrillingandmagnificent
descriptionofwhatwassooncomingandclosedwithagloriousperorationcalling
forthfromtheaudiencerepeateddemonstrationsofapplause.—Attheconclusion
somegentlemanintheaudiencearose&aftermovingavoteofthankstothe
speaker,requestedthatthelecturemightberepeatedandasChairmanIputittoa
vote—itwasunanimouslycarried—andsonextThursdaynightaweekwas
announcedforitsRepetition.InoticedamongtheaudienceSenatorHoward,Gen’l
Banks&manyothernotedpersonages.—TheLecturewasindeedasuccessand
carriedtheaudiencecompletelywiththespeaker.Nodemonstrationsof
disturbanceweremadeaswehadbeenwarnedtherewouldbe—buttheelement
wasoutsidetheHall&onlykeptbackthroughfearofthelargerespectableaudience
thattheyfoundassembled.—Congratulationsfollowedmydarlingatthecloseand
allcameawaysatisfiedwiththeresultsoftheevening.
ToMrs.Whelply
[]hisnestinvernalmeadows,
Thro’themorningmists&shadows
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40
Hiddenfromthenight—
Upwardtowardthesunlightspringing
Soaring—diving—sweetlysinging
Inthemorninglight.
Sofromeverymistofsadness
Fromtheearthwithswiftestgladness
Doththespiritsoar.
Flashingwingsofgoldenbrightness
Andwithheartofjoyouslightness
Singingevermore.
Andthysilentthoroughlyonehidden
Tillby[]bidden
Towardthesame.
Andtotheethisthoughtisgiven,
PartofEarthandpartofheaven.
MeadowLark’sthyname.
Shenandoah.
TheabovepoemwasgivenbyShannielastDecemberatalittlesociablehere,but
notreproduceduntilthis[].
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41
Thursday,Marchlst1866
[Nathan]Carrie&Major[George]Chorpenningcametoday.TheMadamis
verycordial&hasforgottenIsupposethatwhensheleftWashingtonayearago,she
wasnotonthebestofthetermswiththewriter—buthermemoryisshort&
treacherousandonthewholeIdon'tknowbutthatitisa[]toforgetinsuchcases.
—Itwouldbeinsomepersons,thosewhomweknowtobesincere,buther
steadfastnessislikethatofthewind—liabletoveeratanymoment.
ThefollowingbeautifullittlepoemcamethroughCoraandbyShannytoMr
Kure—
“CaveofSilence”
Intheforestwild&hoary
Whenthewindsrepeattheirstory
AnddeepSolitudeitsglory,
Evermanproclaims—
Whenthesparkling[]rushes
Andthepearlyfountaingushes,
Andtheechoeverhushes
E’enthewood-nymphs’names
Soarockycaverevealeth
Splendorswhichnosunbeam[]teth
Andwhicheveryfairyfeeleth
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Inhercharmedhome—
Oftenthusfromeyesofmortals
Inthegrand&shiningportals
HiddenbythegreatImmortals
Tillthehourdothcome.
Allthynoblestthoughtsconcealing
Tillthro’loveorwoesrevealing
Thoushalteverfind
Thatthetruestraresttreasures
Aretheoneswhichvirtuemeasures
InSilentCavesofMind.
Shenandoah.
Alittleincidentoccurredtonightwhichillustrateshumannaturemost
excellentlywell.—LastweekmydarlingfanciedthatMrsMatthews,[Schuyler]
Colfax'smother-in-law,atthereceptiondidnotgreetherwiththatwarmththatshe
shouldhavedone,orthatshe,bynottakingherhomewhenwecameaway,slighted
heronaccountofherconnectionwithSpiritualism.—Accordinglythismorningshe
paidherbackinherowncoin&thattoomostadmirably,astheladyhavingbeento
thelecturetheothernight&hearingthatSpiritualistshadbrains&cproceededto
bemostpolite,butCoracouldnotseeitinthatlight&wasrepeatedly[]andstately.
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43
[Cora]Attended,aftermuchindecisiononthesubject,thereceptionof
SpeakerColfax.Webothpreferthequietofourownhome,butatlastdecidedto
go.SawMr&MrsStebbins,MrJulian,andseveralotherswhomweknew.Gen'I
Banksgreetedmyhusbandverycordially,tho’theyarebynomeansfavorites
withoneanother.WeboththinkBanksa“policy”man.Hewasintroducedbymy
husband&madesomeflatteringallusionstothelectureofTuesdayevening,to
whichImadeanotherreplythenabow,&andaftersometriflingconversation
hewalkedaway.Weremainedabouthalfanhourthenleftuntilthethorough
convictionthatReceptionsareanuisance—merecoldlifelessformalities—
whichistrue!
Friday,March2nd1866
[Nathan]Gen’lBankswasparticularlypolitetobothofuslastevening.I
imaginethatheisseekingtomakeupforhispastmeanness&tyrannyandwouldbe
[]ofmy[]—asgodknowshehasdonemeinjuryenough—anddidIharbor
vengefulfeelingshewouldbethefirstthatIshouldstrike,ashetriedtodomeall
theinjuryinhispower—butintheenditresultedinmyfavor.—
[Cora]VisitedtheSenate&housetoday.Foundbothunderthecontrolof
theDemocraticsideandveryfewpersonsintheGalleries.-Thereseemstobea
lullinthepoliticalatmosphereevenasthereisintheoutward.Doesthissilence
presageastorm?Surelyitdoesinapoliticalsense,andwhilespringisunfolding
herbuds&leavestothewarmsunshine&bakingair,tempest&stormsofwar
willrollaroundus-anominousbroodingspiritisnear-onethatbreathesof
wartothenation.—
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44
AfterdinnerwecalledatNellie’s&askedthemtoaccompanyustothe
Senatewherewesupposedtherewouldbeaneveningsession.-Wearrivedat
about8o’clock&foundtheSenatehadadjournedatseven,havingremainedin
sessionuntilthattime&finallypassedtheconcurrentresolutionthatnoneof
theSouthernstatesshallbeadmitteduntilcongressdeclaresthementitledto
admission.Theopposition(Dem)triedtopreventavote,buttheRepublicans
wereboundtopassitiftheysatallnight.-Thevotewasayes28,nays19.We
wereinformedofthisbythekeeperintheCap.
CalledonMrsStebbinsbutdidnotfindherin.MrsMerchant,however,
invitedustoherroomwherewepassedanhourinmostpleasantconversation.
SenatorHowardisabsentinconsequenceofthedeathofhiswife.Itwasquite
suddenbutperhapsthereissomethingProvidentialinhisabsencejustnowforI
thinkthedangersaregatheringthick&fastaroundthememberswhoare
called“Radical.”Wemisshimtho’,inCongress&socially.-
Julius&Nelliefoundanoldfriend,Miss[Josephine]Griffin[g]ofthe
Freedmen’sAidSociety,inthehouse&calledonher.-WedidnotseeMr&Mrs
Stebbins,butenjoyedthecallverymuchhopetoseethemallatourroom
tomorrowevening.
[Nathan]TheactionoftheSenatetodayinpassingbyastrongmajoritythe
ConcurrentResolutionacceptsthechallengethatthemiscreantJohnsonhashinted
atCongressandhintsbackinhisfacedefiance.—Tisabravedeedandcompletely
emancipatestheRadicalwingofCongressfromanyfurtherassociationwiththe
Executive.—ThenextstepintheprogrammewillbetheadmissionofTennessee&
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45
theCommitteeofReconstructionwillreportprobablyinfavorofadmittingherupon
onlyaloyalbasis,thatis,permittingonlythosewhohavebeenloyaltotakepart
eitherintheelectionsorgovernment,disfranchisingRebels&makingequalbefore
thelawallcitizensblackorwhite.—Thiswillbeanotherpillforcandy,whichit
seemshardlyprobablenow,hewillswallowwithoutsomedemonstrationofthe
clawthatexistsbehindthefearofpower—butletitcome,itisbetterthattheissue
shouldbemetthisdaythananyother—thepeopleareready,theywillsustain
CongressandthatthisInfamousmiscreantwhoshamesthePresidentialchairwill
leave‘erehehasfinishedhiswork.—
Saturday,March3rd1866
[Cora]Mydarling&myselfwrotealonglettertothe[Anti-Slavery]
Standardthismorning-descriptiveofMrsGage’slecture,of“TheFenian”
movement&itsinevitableconnectionwiththedisturbedconditionofthe
country,ofMrSeward’scomplicityandtreacheryinreferencetoMexico,France,
thePope-andthefuturestrugglesofournation,oftheconditionofthepublic
mind-ofCongress,TheArmy,itssympathywiththeExecutive–Gen’lBanks,his
opinionthat“thearmywillfightforitself”-ofthecomingstruggle&thegreat
issuesinvolved-allmakingasomewhatstartlingbuttruthful&interesting
letter.Rec’dabeautifulletterfromMissWoolmanofBurlington,N.J.atwhose
houseweenjoyedsuchrealpleasurewhenwecamefromN.York&Boston.-She
wrotemostsweetlyofourvisit,urgedmenottogiveuptheideaofplayingthe
harp,andshewhoplayssodivinelythinksthatImightbecomeproficient.Ihope
‘tistrue,forofallinstrumentsIlovetheharpthebest.Shewrotemost
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46
encouraginglyofourworkinbehalfoftheFreedmen,saidwemustnotbe
discouragedbytheobstacleswhichthepresidenthadplacedintheway,but
mustpressbravelyonforourmissionwasHeavenappointed&mustsucceed!
Sheurgedustovisitthemonourwaynorth,whichweshallsurelytrytodo.—
Sheisasplendidwoman,&Iknowshelovesusbothforsheissincere.
ThiseveningMr&MrsStebbinscame,buttotheir&ourgreat
disappointmentnoonewaswiththem—MissMerchant,Miss[Clara]Barton,&
othersexpectedtocomebutwereprevented.Weinvitedthemtoourroomand
enjoyedaquiet,cozychat,tho’itwassomewhatsadwhenwethoughtofthe
inevitablesorrowswhicharebroodingoverus.-Ofcourseourconversationwas
whollyuponthependingevents,political&social,whicharecoming.-During
theeveningtheywishedustofixuponsomeeveningtovisitthem&tohavetheir
friendstomeetus.-Aftercanvassingthematter,wethoughttomorrowevening
wouldbethebesttimeasweshouldbeoccupiednearlyeveryeveningnextweek
&weexpecttoleaveonFriday.-Itwasdecidedthatwegotomorrownight.-
George&Louise[Bacon],Julius&Nelliearealsoinvited.Theyhopetohave
severalmembersofCongressthere&itwillnodoubtbequiteinteresting.-Mr&
MrsSleftearlyastheywereweary-welikethemverymuch.
[Nathan]Aspiritofconflictisbroodingoverthiscity,whichcoulditbeseen
initstruelight,wouldexcitealarmandhorrorinthemindsofallloyalandfreedom
lovingpeople.—Thecityisfullofruffians—disbandedconfederatesoldiers,who
roamaroundthecityatnight,keepingboundduringtheday,whodogandfollow
ourRadicalCongressmen&allotherswhoarespeciallyantislavery—whothreaten
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47
thed—dabolitionists,astheyaretermedhere,withdeath&vauntinglysay—that
“inafewdaystheywillallbecleanedoutofWashington”andwhoarethe
miscreantswhoaredoubtlessbroughtheretodothebloodyworkofthis
government,whenitshalldecidetoattemptthedissolutionofwhatitcallsthe
“scumofCongress”&whoareatbestcutthroats&assassins.—
Sunday,March4th1866
[Cora]Thismorningwhileatthebreakfasttablewerec’dapackagefrom
theStandardcontainingthemanuscriptofapoem-unpublished-&asplendid
letterfromParkerPillsbury[ofTheAnti-SlaveryStandard]-explainingthatthe
literarydeptisnotunderhiscontrol&thattheyneverpublishoriginalpoetry-
alsothattheEditorofthatdepartmentisprejudicedagainstspiritualismand
wouldnotlookwithfavoruponanyproductionemanatingfromthatsource.-
Hepraisedmydarling’sletterstotheStandardveryhighly&said“yourlast
letterwasthebestonesenttoanyoftheN.YorkJournalsontheeventsofthat
week,”also“youseemtocomprehendthesituationbetterthananyoneelseat
leastaccordingtomyviews”T’isglorioustoreceivepraisefromamanso
honest,critical&trueastheEd.oftheStandard!
MetwithJulius&Nelliebyappointmentattheirhouseabouteleveno’c
andwiththebabytookatriptoGeorgetowntovisitMr&Mrs[AlfredandAnnie]
Cridge,friendsoftheirswhomwehavemet&likeverymuch.-Theylivefarup
ontheheightsinanoldfashionedcottagesurroundedbygroundswhichonce
werebeautifulandstillretaintracesofformerloveliness.-MrsCisalovely
woman,possessingahighlygifted&susceptibleorganism.-Sheisthesisterof
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Prof[William]DentontheeminentGeologistwhohaspublishedthatwonderful
bookentitledthe“SoulofThings”whichcontainsthepsychometricreadingsof
MrsCridgewhileinaClairvoyantstate.-Bothherself&husbandarehighly
intellectual,buthermindisthefinerofthetwo.-Theyhavetwolovelychildren,
aboy&agirl&twointhespiritworld.Theirlittleboy(fiveyearsold)isamost
remarkable&giftedbeing,spontaneousandfreeasthesunshine,holdingdaily
conversewithhislittlespiritBrothers-heinsiststhattheycomeandplaywith
him.-Weallenjoyedtheafternoonverymuchandweregladtothechange.The
dayhasbeenbright&sunnybutaseverewindhasmadeitratherunpleasant,&
towardeveningitwasverycold.-WearrivedhomeaboutsixP.M.&preparedto
gototheroomsofMr&MrsStebbins.
[Nathan]InvitedMrBacon,Julius&Nellietogowithusandproceededto
MrsStebbinsrooms.Foundalargecompanyassembledtomeetuscomposedofthe
followingmembersofCongress—[GeorgeW.]Julian[R-Indiana],[William]
Lawrence[R]ofOhio,[GeorgeV.]Lawrence[R]ofPenn,[GlenniW.]Scofield[R-
Pennsylvania],[Charles]Upson[R-Michigan],[FernandoC.]Beaman[R-Michigan],
[RowlandE.]Trowbridge[R-Michigan]andfiveotherswhosenamesIhave
forgotten.—Mr&MrsGilesStebbins,MrsMerchant,MrsBeauman,MrsGriffin[g],
MissClaraBarton&others.—Afterabriefconversationmydarlingwasinfluenced
byTheodoreParker&fortwohoursaconversationwaskeptupuponthecondition
&prospectsofthecountry.ThePresident&Congress,SpiritCommunion&other
subjects,thesubstanceofwhichIabstractasfollows—
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49
HesaidthatPresidentJohnsonwouldnothesitatetocarryouthispolicyeven
ifheiscompelledtodispersetheRadicalpartofCongresswiththebayonet—and
muchmorebearinguponthesamepointthathasbeengivenus&writtendown
herebefore.—ThatSewardwasatthebottomofthewholematter&wasnow
intriguingwiththePopeatRome&theEmperorNapoleonthroughhisspecial
PrivateEmbassadorGen’lMcClellan,reiteratedwhathehadbeforesaidtoSenator
HowardrelativetoSeward’ssendingArchBishopHughes&ThurlowWeedto
France&Rome,&alsothearrangementsthathehadmade&carriedoutrelativeto
theirneutralityandtheMexicanscheme.—SaidthatJohnsonwasincomplicity
withtheAssassinationofMrLincoln,thatthevisitofBooththemorningoftheday
thedeedwasdonewassignificant,asmostcertainlyifanythinginthewayofharm
hadbeenintendedJohnson,itwouldnothaveoccurredatthattimeashisdeath
thenoranattemptathisassassinationwouldhavepreventedtheirdesignsuponMr
Lincolnfrombeingcarriedout,thereforethatitwasnottoassassinatebuttoholda
conferencewithhimthatBooth’svisitwasmade—&thatotherevidencewouldyet
cometolightwhichwouldprovethetruthoftheassertion.—Thattheadmissionof
Tennesseewouldonlydelaytheconflictandnotpreventit—thatifCongressdidnot
admitthatstate,thefightwouldcommenceinonemonth,iftheydid,itwould
withintwomonths,asMrJohnsonwouldinsistupontheadmissionofallthestates
&unlessCongressconsentedhewouldthenforcethemtohisdemands.—Thatthe
loanbillsoughttobecarriedthroughCongressbythesecretaryofTheTreasury
wasbutapartoftheprogrammebutthatitwouldfail.—ThatthePresident
wantedallthemoney&controlofallthathecouldobtaintocarryoutthese
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50
purposes,butthatCongresswoulddiscoverhis[]andpreventit.—ThatCongress
wouldnotholdanothersessioninWashington,thatwithinthenextsixmonthswar
wouldbeinexistenceallovertheland,inwhichtheGovernment,thesouthern
people,northernCopperheads&sympathizers&theFenians&theCatholicchurch
wouldbeononesideandtheFreedmen,radicals&thetrueGovernmentuponthe
other.—ThatitwouldbegininthestreetsofWashingtonwiththearrestofthe
RadicalwingofCongressfortreason—thatitwouldthenspreadliketheNewYork
riotsalloverthecountry.—ThataProvincialGovernmentwouldbeestablished
somewhereinOhioorsomeoftheWesternstates—thatatfirsttheConservatives
wouldgaintheascendancy,butfinallyitwouldhavetosuccumbtothetrue
principlesofHumanity&Freedom.—Thatitwouldlastatleastfouryears&
perhapslonger.—ThatinitssettlementalloftheReligious,Political&social
questionsthatnowagitatethecountrywouldbesettledandPeaceandtrue
Harmonywouldfinallyprevail.MuchelsewassaidthatIhavenotroomtowrite
anddeepinterestwasmanifestedbyallpartiespresent.—ThePresident&Mr
Sewardrec'daterriblescorching—themembersofCongressquestionedthe
speakerclosely&uponeveryanswerweresatisfiedofitstruth.—Indeedmany
thingsseemingtocorroboratewhattheyalreadyknew,butwhichtheremainderof
thecompanywereentirelyignorantof.—Theseancelasteduntilalatehour&all
wentawaysatisfiedofthetruthoftherevelations&predictions.—Theinterview
hadamarkedeffect&willIbelieveservetoinfluencethevotesofthemembers
presentupontheTennesseequestionwhichcomesuptomorrow.—
Monday,March5th1866
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51
[Cora]ThismorningwepreparedtogototheCapitolassoonaspossible,
expectingthatthisquestionoftheadmissionoftheTennesseememberswould
beconsideredintheHouse-asthiswasthedapfixedforthereportofthe
ReconstructionComm,onthatsubject.Mydarlinghadsomebusinesstoattend
to,soIprecededhimtothesenatechamber&waiteduntilhecame.Wethen
wentovertothehouse,founditinacommitteeofthewholeon“appropriations.”
WeweretoldthattheTennesseematterhadbeenpostponeduntiltomorrow.It
willprobablybeseveraldaysbeforeitwillbedecided.IfearTennesseewillbe
admitted-ifsoitwillbetheprecursorofadmittingalltherebelstates,but
probablyonsuchconditionsasneitherthePresidentnorthestateswillaccept.
Thewholesessionwasverydullandwecamehomeintimefordinner,
afterwhichwesatinourroomduringthewholeofthebeautifultwilight.Then
cametousthemostbeautifulInfluenceweeverfelt,oftenhaveweexperienced
thesamepresencebeforebutnotsopowerfullyastonight.Mydarlingwas
almostenfoldedinit&carriedawaywithme.Iwasimpelledtospeakwhilethus
wesat&thefollowingwordswereaddressedtous-1meanwhileseemingto
readthemonagoldenshieldshapedlikethesunwhichwasbeforemyvision.
SucharareandHeavenlyatmospheresurroundedus.Thesearethewords&
thoughtsgiventousbyonewhosenameweknownot,butwhoshedsonusthe
silveryshowerofherdivinethought—
TheCommunication—
“NearerandstillnearertothefountainofTruth:Higherandstillhigher
upthemountofKnowledge—Closerandcloserdoyourfeetpresstothe
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52
goldenmarginoftheHeavenlyland—dearerandstillmoredear—your
soulsshallclingtogether—madeonebytheperfectlovewhichenfolds
you!Trustyourintuitions.Theywillleadyouaright.Everhaveyoubeen
guidedbythem!EvenfromyourchildhoodhaveIwatchedbothyourlives.
Liketwomountainstreamswhosecrystalsourcesarefarapart,dashing
overrocks,windingthro’shadywoodsanddeepmountaingorges,flowing
calmlythru’meadowsortorturedbyprecipitous&torturedcourses.Until
atlasttheyuniteuponsomegoldenplainandflowoninonetranquil
stream.Thushavebeenyourlives!&thushaveIwatchedyoursoulsfrom
birth!Darkanddevioushavebeenyourpathsthro’careandsorrow,
sufferinganderror,untilnowyoustanduponthepinnacleofthat
mountainwhosenameispeace.Thesorrowsofthepastcantouchyounot.
Eventheirshadowsmaynotreachyou!Likeyonderskydrapedinits
sunsetglory,yetclear&cloudlessyourlivesshallbe.Theshaftsofmalice,
everyhatred&scorn,hurledbythosewholovenottruthandareboundin
darknesscannomorereachyoursouls’pureskythancanmortalhand
pluckyoubrightstarfromitsHeavenlythrone.Likeevening’sstar,your
starofloveisundyingandquenchless.‘Tisagloriousandsublimereality
thatweeverbendaboveyouonwingsoflovetowatchandguardyour
footsteps.Youhavefeltthethrillsofourpresence.Youwillfeelitmoreand
morewhenwrappedineachother’sarms,allthoughtsoftheworldare
excluded.Moreandmorebeautifulwillthelightofyourlovebecome.
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53
Strongerandstrongerwillbeyourheartstobattlefortheright&the
perfectblisswhichisbornofyourloveshallabidewithyouforever!”
Question—Cantheinfluencegivehisorhername?Ans.—My
influenceisknowntothemedium,butsheknowsnotmyname,norwould
yourecognizemebythat.Iam,however,yourtruefriendandguide.Q.—
Canyoutellusofthefuture?Ans.—Youhavebeentoldwhatistocome
immediately.Followyourimpressions;theywillguideyouaright.You
cannotunderexistingcircumstancesdoaughtinconnectionwiththe
Gov’t.Yourheartisnotthere.Gowhereyourfeelingsprompt.Inthatwork
alonecanyousucceed!Q.—ShallweleaveW.assoonasweintend?Ans.—
Youwillbedirected.Ifnothingintervenes,youwillgo.If‘tisnotbest,we
willarrangecircumstancestoprevent.Remember,weareeverwithyou
and‘tisanypresencewhichyoufeelinthoseholyhoursofrapture,you
shallrealizestillmoreperfectlytheblissofheavenlylove!Mychildren,
GoodNight.
Tuesday,March6th1866
[Nathan]ThiseveningmydarlinglecturedattheAsburyChurchtothe
coloredpeopleofthiscityinbehalfofthefamilyofapoorcoloredmanin
Vicksburghwhohadbeensoldintoslaveryfromthisdistrictsomenineyearsago
andwhonowwishedtoreturnhometoWashingtonbuthadnomeans.Thelecture
wasgivenintheiraid.Alargeandattentiveaudienceofcoloredpeople,(mydarling
andmyselfbeingtheonlywhitepeoplepresent)wereinattendance.—Thesubject
was“TheGuidingHand”&inthrillingtonesandeloquentlanguage,thepastand
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54
presentoftheAfricanracewasportrayedandthemannerinwhichthisguiding
handhadledthemoutoftheirbondagetothesemblanceofFreedom&howyetthe
sameHandwouldleadthemtothelandindeedofLiberty—thoughtheypassed
throughtheRedSeaofbloodtoattainthesame.—Attheconclusion,theaddress
wascondensedintoseriesofResolutionsembodyingthesenseofthelecture,and
followedbyabeautifulPoemgivenimpromptu.—IwriteoutTheResolutionsas
theyhavebeenReproduced—
WhereastheInalienableRightsofallpeopletoLife,Liberty&thePursuitof
Happinessarerecognizedbythehighestlaws,bothDivine&Human,inviolationof
thisinherentprincipleofJustice,thepeopleofournationhavebeenbetrayed&sold
intomostabjectslaverybytheGov’toftheU.S.,andwhereasthehandofInfinite&
avengingJusticehasbursttheirbondsthro’theInstrumentalityofafearfulwar,and
whereasthesebondsarebrokenintheletterbutnotinthespiritofthenation—for
thedistinctionofcash&colorstillprevail,&ourpeoplearesubjecttoevery
indignity&crueltyeventodeathatthehandsoftheirformermasters.Therefore,
Resolved—thatwebind&pledgeourselvesinthemostsolemnmanner,touniteour
raceinonegrandPhalanxorFraternityfortheattainmentoftherecognitionofour
rightstolife,liberty&thepursuitofhappiness.Resolved—thatas“Knowledgeis
Power”wewillerectschoolhouses&organizeplacesofInstructionforthe
educationofourchildrentotheendthattheymayknowthemeaningoftheword
“Liberty”—andneverceasetostruggleforitsattainment.Resolved—thatwe
recognizeinnohumanpowerorGovernmenttherighteithertoenslaveortomake
freeanypeople—andthatwewillsteadily&constantlydemandfromthepeopleof
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thisnation&theGovernmenttherecognitionoftheseInherentRights,never
ceasingevenuntoDeath.—Resolved,Thatweperceive“TheGuidingHand”ofThe
InfiniteFatherinallourtrials&blessings&thathisPowerhasledusthisfar
towardsthelightonthemountaintopofFreedom&thatwewillcontinuetotrust&
laborknowingthatGodisstillourstrength&shield&wewillremainUnited,Firm,
&Undauntedeventotheend.Poem—“SongofFreedom”
Slavesnomore,tho’scourge&chain
Seektobindourraceagain.
Letthemcome.
Littlecomfortwilltheyfind.
Nevercantheychainthemind.
Letthemcome.
Tho’thelandberedwithblood.And
wewalkinitsdarkflood.
Letitcome.
Tho’ourwives&childrendie,
Wewillneverlivealie.
Letitcome.
Tho’theTyrantatourdoor,
Bidsushope&trustnomore.
Letitcome.
Tho’inprisoncellwepray,
Godwillguideusonourway.
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56
Letitcome.
Stillwe’llwatch&hope&trust.
KnowingGod—ourGodisJust.
Letitcome.
Tho’thebattlesoundafar,
Andwehearthenotesofwar.
Letitcome.
Whentheday&hourdothcome,
Wewillstrikeforlife&home.
Letitcome.
WeshallpasstheRedseawave.
God’skindhandwilleversave.
Letitcome.
Slaves,ohnever!seethebirds
Andtheflocks&lovingherds,
Theyarefree.
IntheirJoyandLiberty,
GodhathmadeallnatureFree,
Soarewe.
Slaves,nonever!Tho’theSun,
Ceasehissplendidcoursetorun
Wearefree.
Tho’thestarsforgettoshine.
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57
WewillclaimourRightDivine
Wearefree.—
Attheconclusionoftheabove,theResolutionswereunanimouslyadopted
bytheaudienceandloudapplausewentuptothespeaker,greatenthusiasmwas
manifested,andtheydispersedintentuponorganization&practicalizingthetruth
thathadbeentoldthemsoably&soeloquentlybythefairspeaker.—Ohhowmuch
sincerityandrealtruthisthereintheseroughbuttruenatives.Theycanbetrusted,
anditissosatisfactorytoworkforthem.Theyappreciateandestimatefarbeyond
whattheyhavecreditfor&generallyIthink,beyondtheirwhiteneighbors.—My
darling&myselfhaveagloriousworktodoamongthesepeopleandweintendtodo
itwellandeffectively—nomatterwhatmaycome.—
Wednesday,March7th1866
[Cora]Mydearhusband&myselfattendedthesessionintheSenate
today&listenedtoamosteloquent&thrillingspeechofSenatorSumner
againstthepresidingCourt,whichproposestolimittheRepresentationofthe
southtotheirnumberofitswhiteinhabitants.Whilethismeasurewasintended
bytheCommitteewhoreporteditasablowagainstthesuperfluous
representationofthesouthernstateswhicharenolongerentitledtothethree
fifthsvoteoftheslavecode-stillMrSumnerregardsitas“Barbarous&
inhuman”&engraftingdistinctionofcasteuponaRepublicanCourt-whichis
contrarytothespiritofLiberty&utterlyunjusttoaracelatelydisenthralled&
whomitisthedutyofCongresstomakeWhollyFree.Icannotgiveevenanidea
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oftheaddress-itoccupiednearlythreehours&wasoneoftheablestofthe
manyableeffortsofthatgloriousadvocateofFreedom!
TheGallerieswerewellfilled.Mr&MrsStebbinswerethere.Directlyin
frontofussatFrederickDouglasswithhisremarkablefaceallaglowwith
enthusiasm,listeningmostattentivelytoeverygoldenthoughtwhichfellfrom
thelipsoftheSenator.Herecognizedme&Iintroducedmydarling,whohad
nevermethimbefore&weconversedbrieflyatthecloseofMrSumner’s
remarks.-DouglassisatrueGenius-andisrisingeverydayinthatestimation
ofourbestminds.-ButweboththinkPurvishissuperior,thelatterseems
mouldedinafinerform,mentally&spiritually.Butbotharerepresentativemen
&aredestinedtoleadtheirpeople&eventhenationalongdistanceontheroad
toperfectFreedom.He[Douglass]isinWashingtonwatchingthemovementsof
Congress&theExecutive,alsodeliveringlecturestothecolor’dpeopleintheir
churches&tothenegroesinsuchplacearecenterprocured,forletitbe
recordedherethattheownersofallHalls,andtheTrusteesofallChurches
refusedGarrison&haverefusedDouglasstheuseoftheirbuildings-theformer
becauseofhisknowndevotiontohumanLiberty,thelatterbecauseofhis
Complexion.Surelythewarhasnotaccomplisheditswork!
PassedtheeveningatNellie’swherewewereinvitedtomeetMr&Mrs
Cridge&MrsSeaboldthesisterofthelatter.Theoccasionwasmostdelightful
andpleasingtousall.-Wefindgreatsocialcongenialitybetweenthem&
ourselves&shalleverprizethemasamongourmostvaluedacquaintances.Of
coursetheconversationwasmostlypoliticalasthegreateventsofthehourare
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uppermostinallminds.Weweredelightedwiththeevening&badethemgood
night&goodbyewithsincereregretasweleavetownFriday!Wrotemother.
Thursday,March8th1866
[Cora]Todaywehavebeenwriting&packingalldaypreparatoryto
departingonthemorrow,firsttoBurlington[NewJersey]toseetheWoolmans
intheirdelightfulhome&thenwestwardtomother’s[inCuba,NY].-Wewanted
togototheSenatebuthadtoomuchtodo&astonightwasfixedforthelecture
ontheApostatetoberepeated,mydarlingthoughtIhadbetterremainquiet.-
ThevoteontheproposedConst’lAmend’twillbetakentodaypendingwhichI
havenodoubttherewillbeanexcitingtime.-Ihopeitwillnotpass,asitisbut
anotherofthoseperilouscompromisestothe“Whiteman’sGov’t”whichIam
surprisedtoseesustainedbysomanyofourleadingrepublicans.The
Democratswillvoteagainstitbecausetheythinkitinfringestheprivilegesof
theirfriendsintheSouth.Sumner&afewothers,willvoteagainstitbecause
theyregarditasaconcessiontoSouthernAristocracy&caste&subversiveof
thatentirejusticewhichshouldgovernthesentimentsofCongress.
WrotetoEmma[sister]todaywithmusic&papers&didnottelleither
herormotherthatwewerecominghomesosoonaswewishtogivethem
surprise.TonightwewereatUnionLeagueHallinduetime-agoodaudience
wasassembledbutnotasnumerousasitwouldhavebeensomeotherevening.I
knowitwasappreciative.Mydarlingwillwriteofthelecture.Beforegoingwe
calledatNellie’swherewemetMrsCheeseman,justfromCalifornia,&anold
acquaintanceoftheirs&Darling’s.Ialmostfeltacquaintedwithher,sooften
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hadIheardthemspeakofher.Shegreetedusmostcordially.Herhusbandis
Ass’tU.S.Treasurerthere&isoneofthemostrespected&honoredcitizensof
Cal’aoroftheCountry.Mrs.C.isacharmingwoman,active,wholesouled,
intelligent.ShecomesonbusinessofimportanceconnectedwiththeirDep’t.We
regretpartingwithhersosoon,buthopetomeetagain.
[Nathan]MyDarling&myselfweredelightedtomeetourgoodfriendMrs
Cheeseman—sheisasplendidwomanandtherepresentationofthebesttypeof
herclass.ShehasjustcomeonfromCaliforniatoattendtoherhusband’sbusiness
intheTreasuryDepartment—inhavingmetwithalossofsome$10,000bythe
mistakesorconversionofaclerk.—WhenIlastsawMrsCheesemanIwasonmy
waysouthtotakechargeoftheInternalRevenueDeptofLouisianaanddidnot
expecttomeethersosoonagainthissideoftheRockyMountains.—
[Cora]Atthecloseofthelecture&aftertheaudiencehadnearlyall
dispersed,alady&gentleman-entirestrangers-approached&thenafterafew
remarkspresentedmewithamostexquisitebasketofrarestflowersarranged
inamostbeautifulmanner.Itwasadelicatetestimonial&gavememuch
pleasure.Mydarlingwasdelighted.Itwascomposedofwhiteandteal
Japonicas.Borderedwithevergreens&asters[]with[]heliotrope.
Friday,March9th1866______________EnRoute North
[Cora]BadeadieutoWashingtonalmostwithoutregret,altho’weleft
manyvaluedfriendsandwerealittlereluctanttoabsentourselvesfromthe
scenesofsomuchinterestasarelikelyconstantlytooccurintheCapitol.Mr&
MrsStebbins,MrsMerchant,SenatorHoward(nowunfortunatelyabsent),Julius
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&Nellie,Mr&MrsCridge,&MrsCheesemanareamongthosewhosesocietywe
shallmissthemost-whiletheprivilegeoflisteningtotheeloquentwordswhich
arealmosteverydaybeingutteredinbothHousesofCongresswillbewholly
deniedus.
Yetwefeelitisourduty,nolessthanourpleasure,tovisitourfriends,
takealittlerepose&theninalltheNortherncities,urgethepeopletosustain
thesplendidmindsinCongresswhohavethusfarfoughtnoblyfortheright.-
AlsoacquaintthemwiththetrueissuesoftheConflict&showhowutterlythe
Presidenthasforfeitedallrespectofgoodmen&women!
Ourjourneywasmostfatiguing&unfortunatelywefailedtoconnectat
PhilawiththesixP.M.trainforBurlington-wereobligedtowaittwohours,but
atlastwearrivedalittlepastten&foundMrWoolman’scarriageawaitingus&
soonwewereinthewarmembrace&hospitablehomeofourfriends-tooweary
almosttospeakbutafteranicesupperwefeltquiterefreshed.Howcozy&
comfortableitishere&howbeautiful&warmtheirgreeting.
[Nathan]Lasteveningmydarlingwifelecturedagainupon“theApostate.”
TheInfluencepurportedtobeTheodoreParker.Hesaid“Thatwhencrossingthe
oceansomeyearsago,heinquiredofanoldsailor,howheknewthestormwas
coming.Herepliedthatthehazeinthewesternskytoldofthecomingdanger.That
whenatVesuviustheinhabitantsknewoftheeruptionofthehugemonsterfromthe
rumblingsthatannouncedtheoutburstdaysbeforeitoccurred.Thatinthedefilesof
theAlps,themountaineerscouldreleasetheslidingoftheglacier,socouldthe
speakerfromtheindicationsofthepoliticalworldtodayeasilyseetheconflictthat
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wascominguponus—socouldhe,arguingfromcausetoeffect,safelypredict
anotherwar.Anothercontestinwhichmoreinvisibleelementswouldbebrought
thanthoseofthelastwar.”Hethen,afterreviewingthepresentpoliticalsituation,
tookupthequestionofApostacy,claimingthatAndrewJohnsonwasnotan
apostatenow.Thathewasanapostate—whenduringhisgovernorshipof
Tennessee,heclaimedtobetheMosesoftheNegro—fromhisfirsteducation&
proclivities&thatnowhehadreturnedtothefold&wasnolongeranapostate.
Thathewaseducatedin&raisedfromtheranksofthepoorwhiteofthesouth&
thathecouldnot&wouldnotbeanyotherwaythanafriendtothesouth&an
enemytotheNegro.Thatapostacywasaterriblecrimeasconsideredinthe
MasonicLodge&intheCatholicChurchandpunishedbythemostterrible
infliction—andthatsuchwouldultimatelyreachAndyJohnson.”Shethenpictured
thelifeofMosesofEgyptandbroughtMr.Johnsonincomparisonwiththatnoble
workerinthecauseofTruth&saidthatitwastheworstsentencethatthePresident
couldhaveutteredwhenhepromisedtobecometheMosesoftheblackman.She
thentookuptheRepublicanpastand[]uponitspresentpositionwiththe
President,endingthesubjectwithwhoweretheaccusersofAndrewJohnson—the
victimsofKansaswar,thelonglineofsufferersfromthelatewar,thelatemartyred
President,thewidowsandorphansofthethousandswhohadfallenonthe
battlefield,inhospital&inthetrenches,themillionsofsufferingandwronged
freedmen—allinrank&fileliketheghostsofRage&[]beforetheWhiteMan.No[
]—Thynamebe“accuser.”ShethensaidthatwhenthismanJohnsonpassedand,as
hewouldintime,someonewouldbefound,asindeedsomeonealwayscouldbe
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foundnomatterhowpoorthesubjectwho[]bewillingtopronouncehiseulogy,
thenletablackmonumentberaiseduponwhichshouldbepaintedinlettersof[]
lightthefollowingwords—“IwillbeyourMoses,”beneath—“Thegovernmentcan
donothingmoreforyou.”Thenbeneaththat,“AsIsurveyaroundthecircle&
beholdtheotherendoftheline,IseeaPhillips,aSumner&aStevens,whoare
equallytraitorswithaDavis,aSlidelloraToombs.”Thenletthemonumentbe
foreversentontotheseaofoblivion&thisshallbetheepitaphofAndrewJohnson.”
InconcludingshespokethenofthegloriousTrinity—aSumner,thebuglecallerof
Freedom,Stevens,themanbornofLiberty,andWendellPhillips,thegoldeneagle
whosepinionshaveneverbeentouched.”Thehourwascrowdedandtheaudience
applaudedvociferously.Attheconclusion,agentleman&lady(perfectstrangers)
approachedmydarlingandpresentedherwithamostbeautifulbasketofflowers,a
gloriousfloraltribute.Shewasdelighted,andthoughtherbeautifulflowersthe
Resolutionoftheevening.
Saturday,March10th1866__________Burlington, NewJersey
[Nathan]WearetodayenjoyingthedelightfulsocietyofMr&MrsWoolman
attheirbeautifulcountryseatinBurlingtonNewJersey.—LeftWashington
yesterdaymorningandafteragreatlyprotractedJourneyreachedtheverypleasant
domicileofourexcellentfriends.—Theyaredelightfullysituated.Justfarenough
outofthecitytobeamongthegreenfieldsandfragrantflowersandnearenoughto
Philadelphiatoreach“TheContinental”inanhour’sride.—MrWoolmanisoneof
thoseactivestrivingbusinessmenthatmakeAmericasoeminentlyacommercial
nation,fullofenergy,impulseandalltonedandharmonizedwithatruespiritof
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Progress&Reform—heisasplendidspecimenofourcountriesgoaheadworking
truemen.Hehasalargewealthwhichhasaccumulatedbyhisindomitablegoahead
activeness&isdailyamassing&addingtohispossessions.Heisveryliberal,
providessplendidlyforhisfamilyandisagoodhusband,whichisthebestofall.—
MrsWoolmanisoneofthefewinthisworld,amiable,refined,oflargesocialnature,
lovelyinherdispositionandequallyReformatory&Progressivewithherhusband.
—Splendidequipments,homes,andallthatgoestomakeupafineestablishmentis
there—andtheyenjoyitandhavetheirfriendsassisttheminhavingglorioustimes,
riding,driving,&visiting.MrsWoolmanisabeautifulperformerontheHarp&my
darlingislearning.—
Sunday,March11th1866
[Nathan]MrJackson&MissSallie(anieceofMrWoolman’s)cameout
yesterdayfromPhiladelphiaandalsotwoyoungspecimensofhumanity(oneof
themwithadecidedlygreaterquantityoflegsthanbrains)—younggentlemenwho
visittheyoungladiesofthehousehold—sothataltogetherwehaveaJolly
household.—Spentaverypleasantdaythroughtheconversation,ridingandmusic
&visiting.—Intheeveningthetriflingportionofourcrowddepartedfor
Philadelphia&thenunderthethrillingcharmofMrsWoolmans’inspiredmusicon
theHarp,mydarlingwasinfluencedbythePoetShelleyandgaveusallasplendid
communication,directedparticularlyhowevertoMrJackson,whowastheonly
unbelieverpresent,butwhoonthisoccasionwasmostdecidedlyimpressed.—
Afterwards,Shanniecameandgavethemsymbolicnameswiththefollowingsinging
words—
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ToMissNellie—“MossRoseBud”
Itbloomethinbrightgardensrare
Ingayparterreandbower.
Amongtheflowerspure&fair
Thishaththesweetestpower
Openingitsdewypetalsoft
Todrinkthemorninglight
Sippingthedew-dropssweetandsoft
ReflectingHeaven’slight.
GuardedbyNature’sarmorstrong,
Nohandcanmaritsgrace
Butitssweetperfumefloatsalong
Itsbeautye’ertotrace
Sodoththyheartitsthoughtsunfold
Inrareandlovelytruth
Butpurityandgoodnesshold
Thearmorofthyyouth.
‘Tislovealonehathmagicpower
Itssweetsandjoystoclaim
Thouartsecureinlife’syoungbower
“MossRoseBud”isthyname.
Shannie.
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ToMissMary—“JapanLily”
Wherewavingpalmtreeseverrise
Againsttheclearandbendingskies
AndwheretheSunhisgorgeousbeams
Foreverpoursincrystalstreams
Fillingeachhourwithbliss—
Whenorangegroves&myrtlebarrows
Fillwiththeirsweetsthegoldenhours
AndNaturerobesingorgeousfolds
Eachlovelyshapeandcolorholds
Thrillin