Mr. [French] don't like many things; thinks the Unitarians
don't get hold of the work in the right way. The negroes are mostly Baptists,
and like emotional religion better than rational, so called. They “ to Jesus,” and can not understand a religion
that is not founded on His divinity. Many marriages have been “confirmed” among
them. He had laid much stress on the duty of regular marriages between those
who have been living together without that sanction. On some plantations the
masters had allowed and encouraged marriages by ministers — on others, little
was cared about it. A good deal of cotton had been planted, and more corn. The
work of cultivation was going on as well as could be expected. Mr. F. thought
Mr. Snydam would make a good collector. I talked to General [Saxton] about the
work before him. He said the Secretary of War had authorized him to procure one
or two thousand red flannel suits for the blacks, with a view to organization. No arms to be supplied as yet.
SOURCE: Robert Bruce Warden, An Account of the Private Life and Public Services of Salmon Portland
Chase, p. 420-1; See John Niven, editor, The Salmon P. Chase Papers, Volume 1: Journals, 1829-1872, p. 333-5
for the entire diary entry.
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