January 6, 1861 (Sunday)

Many colors of thoughts

Diaries

"Seward opened the Pacific railroad question in a dignified, statesmanlike speech.  There was opposition from Missouri, from the extreme factions South, of course, and from the Northwest, which wants a route yet farther north.  It went off at last without any decisive vote.  I left the Senate in disgust and adjourned to the Smithsonian, preferring stuffed penguins and pickled lizards to the dishonest gabble of the Senate Chamber."  (Diary of George Templeton Strong, January 5, 1861, New York Times)

"This morning we went to Mount Zion to hear Mr. Blake preach.  It is a treat to listen to his sermons, he uses such beautiful language and he explains the passages of Scripture he reads, so clearly that it really stays in our minds and we remember.....Mr. Blake was to dinner with us....When the company were all gone Father told me to ask Lulu to get me ready to go with him to town next morning.  He said he was going to show me what a convention was like.  I was so happy at the thought of going and my heart fell when Mother said:  "Surely, Dr. Bradford, you are not going to take the child away from school?"  (Mother does not like us to miss any time) but Father said, "Yes, I am going to take her with me in the morning, this is history in the making, she will learn more than she can out of books and what she hears in this way she will never forget."  I am so glad.  I am so excited I cannot hold my pencil steady but I must write this down."  (Diary of Sarah Bradford, Daily Observations from the Civil War, January 6, 1861) 

""Thy mercy O Lord endures forever:  Forsake not the works of thine own hands."  Sunday morning -- this is a moderately cool day -- sun shines dimly -- still pleasant enough -- Communion day at our church this day -- I wish I was present to her Dr. Thornwell -- I do love his sentiments on such occasions -- he is encouraging, at the same time makes no allowance for sins -- which if God is just -- and he is, all must be so......When I awake in the night my first thought is, "My state is out of the Union" --when I think of it, I feel we really cannot work -- I wish this thing was ended and let us know our lot -- Lord God -- Almighty!!!  Forsake not the works of thine own hands:  We are thine -- bless the Lord, we are thine.  O God say to the North thus far and no farther --  We of the South have no desire to interfere with others -- we try to wash out our own sins -- and leave each one to answer to God for their own sins."  (Diary of Keziah Brevard--January 6, 1861, Seven Score and Ten)

"If the reports from Springfield are true, there will not be one original Lincoln man in the Cabinet.  It will be all made up from among his competitors and enemies...it looks to me, as thought our cake was dough..."Put not your trust in princes."  There is purer air out of doors then is to be found inside any King's palace.  Thank heaven we own and control the Tribune.  We made Abe and by God, we can unmake him...."  (Letter from Joseph Medill to Charles H. Ray and John Locke Scripps, January 6, 1861, House Divided)  --read transcription