February 16, 1861
Sister F left. I have not enjoyed her visit as I should have done were she less violent & bitter against SC & the South generally. This glorious Union, broken up for the sake of a few negroes! Rather let them go than destroy the Union. This is to me treason against Liberty. In the first place, it is not a “few negroes.” It is the country, for I should like to know who could live here were they freed? — & then the principle involved! I yield nothing — no compromise — where my liberty, my honour, dearer than life is concerned!
She knows too no more about the proper management of negroes than a child, tho’ she has had them under her since she came to woman’s estate. She thinks all discipline severity, yet complains if they are not perfect & makes them ten times more unhappy by her want of government than severe masters do by their excess of it. Vinyard was married whilst she was here & tho she had what to her was a splendid supper & was as happy & contented with it as tho it was a feast & desired nothing more, she took her for the object of her especial sympathy.
Planted Beets, Carrots, Spinach, Parsnips and Salsafy.
Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html
[...] Luckily, Civilian Wartime is around to wash that particular bad taste out of our mouths! LeRae Umfleet, in association with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, is tweeting short excerpts from North Carolina civilians’ accounts of the war, and linking it back to fuller passages on the Civilian Wartime blog. It’s thoughtful, interesting stuff. This is one example from last week, from the diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston: [...]