Transcription of a Joint Diary, Kept by Nathan W. Daniels and His Wife Cora … · 2017. 1. 28. ·...

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1 Transcription of a Joint Diary, Kept by Nathan W. Daniels and His Wife Cora L. V. Scott (Hatch) Daniels. Rendering based on a partial transcription by C. P. Weaver, completed and edited by John B. Buescher. Comprises the last entry of volume 2 (1865) and the entirety of volume 3 (1866-67) of Nathan W. Daniels, Diary, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress December 8, 1865 Washington City, D.C. [Nathan] Concluded this morning that the evening should find us man and wife—accordingly called upon Rev’d Father Pierpont and secured his services, sent Julius after the license, and George after the flowers, and continued in company to the marriage feast, all of which we pleasantly accomplished at half past eight o’clock. My darling Cora and myself entered the quiet and cozy little parlor of our present home, and with only George, Louise, Julius, Lottie, Mrs. Everett, and Father Pierpont in the mortal form, with an immeasurable and glorious assemblage of the Immortal world present, outwardly united in the blissful bonds of that state called matrimony, which, since the first meeting, inwardly had been ours. A delightful supper followed and a feast of venison and flow of sack. Then—. [Diary for 1866] Boldly flying o’er the mountain

Transcript of Transcription of a Joint Diary, Kept by Nathan W. Daniels and His Wife Cora … · 2017. 1. 28. ·...

  • 1

    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

  • 3

    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

  • 7

    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.

  • 8

    “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

  • 9

    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[]

  • 10

    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,

  • 11

    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!

  • 12

    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

  • 13

    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,

  • 14

    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

  • 15

    []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

  • 16

    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

  • 17

    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

  • 18

    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

  • 19

    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

  • 20

    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.

  • 21

    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

  • 22

    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

  • 23

    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.

  • 24

    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

  • 25

    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

  • 26

    measureintendedfortheameliorationoftheFreedman’scondition&notaccept

    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

  • 27

    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

  • 28

    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

  • 29

    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

  • 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

  • 31

    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.—

  • 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

  • 33

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 36

    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

  • 37

    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

  • 38

    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.

  • 39

    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

  • 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[].

  • 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

  • 42

    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.

  • 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.—

  • 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&

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 48

    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—

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 55

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 58

    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

  • 59

    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

  • 60

    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

  • 61

    &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

  • 62

    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

  • 63

    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

  • 64

    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—

  • 65

    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.

  • 66

    ToMissMary—“JapanLily”

    Wherewavingpalmtreeseverrise

    Againsttheclearandbendingskies

    AndwheretheSunhisgorgeousbeams

    Foreverpoursincrystalstreams

    Fillingeachhourwithbliss—

    Whenorangegroves&myrtlebarrows

    Fillwiththeirsweetsthegoldenhours

    AndNaturerobesingorgeousfolds

    Eachlovelyshapeandcolorholds

    Thrillin