Chapter Two

The wether-Thermometr-Sickness and Deaths--News from Charleston, S.C.--Charleston--Vicksburg money conearns, ----France and her plans---Not accepted by Lincoln---Conjectures and Distress in France and England--The Nutralatry of France and England considered--the discontent of the deferent States, -----Reflections---

We have a very cold time, has been Snowing all day wind high and in the E. yesterday and the 3rd was the coldest we have had this season, yesterday morning Ther. 4º above, This sore throat still very bad on the Creek, yesterday I cut out a Cancer of Robt. Boselys arm. Adam Michel lost his oldest daughter.

Feb 10 1863

Yesterday came from D. Sheets, and Wm. Streets, all geting better, on my return, I heard the Rebels attacting the Blockaiding vessels in Charleston harbour, and of the Federals coming to a bad repulse, Sinking and Burning three or four Vessels, with only 5 Rebels Vessels, it is said there were 12 or 14 of the Fedrals, I cant see how this cant be except they Rebels took them on Suprise, which I guess was the case, for the Rebels took them on the Expedition at One O'Clock in the morning, but I should have thought that the Federals ought to have been prepaired agianst to have a Supprise, I guess the Yankees will try this plan again, for the Itch to be in Charleston,

Feb 28 1863

I have been too throny in work to write through all this month, consequently this will be very short chapter, yet I have some little to say before I close. In the first place, there the Yankees have not accomplished there object at Charleston nor at Vicksburg the last accounts I had; this Vicksburg expedition has cast the Federal Government a Vast money and lives, and if they take it, it can be of but little account to the Federals, nor and of no great loss to the Rebels as for as I can see, but I think this Lincoln Government is going fast to decay, there money is at a very low standard, the price of comodotys rises at every New Issue, and the premium on Gold still going up, the last account was 62% thus a Solders wages $13.00 per month, is no more than $6.00, and so with every thing else, these Green-backs will do very well to pay old or new Debts, but I think there will be very little Hoarding of these green-back, them that hoards up such peaper have a better opinions of these green-backs than I have, or of this Administration's France has made, or offered a plan, to try to bring this war to an end, but is was not accepted by Mr. Lincoln; this I was well aware of, I think the Emperor of France knows the policy of Mr. Lincoln and his man Seward better than to even to expect Lincoln to accept of Such a plan; but, I think this was only a formalaty of coming at something else, and what this something is, or will be, is yet a Conjecture but I will venture on a guess, and that guess will be an Acknowledgement of the Southern confedersy, or Else to try to distroy or break up the Block aid; but his is double guess there is one thing quite ceartain that there is much destress boath in France and England boath, and something must be done

There are not less than 50,000 in France and 150,000 out of imployment in England, to keep such numbers on Charaty cant last long, England has hold out nutral I think as long as they can, and I was in hopes she would have continued nutral, but if France should interfare, there is not doubt but England will do the same. But there are other Sings of troubles in Lincolns Administration, there is very plain talk in some of the western states, that has been heretofore Loyal, and even N. York and Penselvania, and N. Jersey, and I am told Connecticut is begining to complain, I have not seen this news from this Yankee State Connecticut; These Yankee States have allways treated the Southeren States with contempt, and have imposed upon them in various ways, and now when they have done there worst to the South, its too late in the day to make long of faces, or make any apologises, they South have repeatity hinted to them that Someday they the South would Resent there injurys, but the Yankees would Laugh in the Southern mans face; the day of Retributuion I think is close at hand, if it is not at hand the Yankees have paid clean Enough for there insolance. But the Yankees have paid clean Enough for there insolance. But the Yankee Government will be certain to Ruin its self, there Resources will give out the very Abolitunist will kick against a Direct Taxation, but the Lincoln government has now infused a heavy Tariff so that at this time the Yankees, and what are called the loyal states have a very heavy burthen upon these Becks, viz, the direct taxation, the Tariff Taxation, and the Conscreplation taxation, in the last of these taxations, there has been Rivers of Blood expended, and too comply with Lincolns demands, a sea of Blood will not Satisfy his Fanatic Stomac, All this, and for what? Why because he has a pretended Sympathy for the Negroes; Now in sober truth, This pretended Sympathy is as false as hell is deep, and he that cant see the Real desire is wilfuley blind; the truth is, (which I have mentioned before) is the Envey to the Negro owner; and now all this blood, and all this Treasure, to glut the Appetite of the Envius Abolishonest; and suppose all there appetites could be satisfized would it be better for the country at large, or even to the Negro himself; I am no Theologian; nor do I know if Slavery be a Sin or not; This I have heard Devines quoted, and Devines say, that in there Bibles they could never find a text that condemed Slavery and it has been the opinion of the Greatest Devines, Adam Clark I remember for one, that Slavery always was, and he believed for ever would be the propper condition of the Negro. But all this may be truth or false, I neather know or care; When I left England, my intention was to come to Virginia, and I knew that Virginia was a Slave holding State; If I had had a disgust against Slavery, I could have stayed in Enland, or I could have stayed in N. York, or gone with some of the free states, but even in Virginia nothing compelled me to have my work done by a Slave, or a free Negro; and as I had to take the Oath to make me a Citizen of Virginia, I took the Oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and Swore Allegiance to Virginia and to Virginia laws, and considering each State to be a Soverign State, I had no Right to dispute, or find fault with the institutions of Virginia nor her laws, and I think every foreganor is bound to the same, and if the Yankees compells me to Sware to the contrary, I think that Oath nothing, and nothin will come out of it.