Seminary, Alexandria, La., Dec. 16,1859.
. . . I wrote you and Minnie from New Orleans as I told you
I would. I did start back in the “Telegram” Monday evening, and Red River being
up, we came along without delay, reaching here Wednesday morning. I had
despatched by a former boat a good deal of freight, brought some in the same
boat, and all the balance will be here in a day or so. I walked out from
Pineville, which is the name of a small group of houses on this side of Red
River, and sent the cart in for my trunk and for the drummer I had picked up in
New Orleans. I wanted also a tailor and shoemaker, but failed to get them. On
getting out I was much disappointed at receiving no letters, but was assured
that all the mails had failed for a week; and last night being mail night I
sent in my new drummer who brought out a good budget, among them your letters.
. . So, as you seem to know, this is an out of the way place without
telegraphs, railroads, and almost without mails.
It so happened that General Graham came out the very day of
my return, not knowing that I was here, and he brought with him Mr. Smith, the
professor of chemistry, who is one of the real Virginia F. F. V.'s, a very
handsome young man of twenty-two, who will doubtless be good company. He is
staying with General Graham, but will move here in a few days. General Graham
seemed delighted with the progress I had made, and for the first time seemed
well satisfied that we would in fact be ready by January 1.
I have not yet been to Alexandria, as I landed on this side
the river and came out at once, but I shall go in on Monday and see all the
supervisors, who are again to meet. I know the sentiments of some about
abolitionism, and am prepared if they say a word about John. I am not an
abolitionist, still I do not intend to let any of them reflect on John in my
presence, as the newspapers are full of angry and bitter expressions against
him. All I have met have been so courteous that I have no reason to fear such a
thing, unless some one of those who came, applicants to the post I fill, with
hundreds of letters, should endeavor to undermine me by assertions on the
infernal question of slavery, which seems to blind men to all ideas of common
sense
.
Your letters convey to me the first intimation I have received
that the project of ——— had not long since been abandoned. . . You remember I
waited as long as I decently could before answering Governor Wickliffe's letter
of appointment, in hopes of receiving a word from ——— who promised Hugh to
write from London. Not hearing from him
and having little faith in the scheme, I finally accepted this place as the
best thing offering. Even yet I think this is my best chance unless the
question of slavery and my northern birth and associations should prejudice me,
and should ——— make his appearance here I should have to be very strongly
assured on the subject of pay and permanency before I would even hint at
leaving. Of course if I could do better, there is no impropriety in my quitting
as there are many strong applicants for the post, many of whom possess
qualifications equal if not superior to me. I still do not believe that ——— is
to be relied on and I don't expect he has the most remote intention of coming
here. . .
These southern politicians have so long cried out wolf that
many believe the wolf has come and therefore they might in some moment of anger
commit an act resulting in Civil War. As long as the Union is kept I will stand
by it, but if we are going to split up into sections I would prefer our
children should be raised in Ohio or some northern state to the alternative of
a slave state, where we never can have slave property.
* * * * * * * * * *
I have already described this place to you — the building
being of course not at all designed for families and I shall not, as long as I
control, permit a woman or child to live in it. The nearest house is an open,
cold house a quarter of a mile distant occupied at present by Professor Vallas,
wife and five children. During my absence at New Orleans they had here bitter
cold weather, the same that killed all the orange trees at New Orleans, and Mr.
Vallas tells me he and his family nearly froze, for the house was designed for
summer, of the “wentilating” kind.
There are other houses between this and Alexandria of the
same general kind, but they are from one and one-half to two and one-half miles
distant, too far off for any person connected with the Seminary to live. The
plan is and has been to build, but the Seminary is utterly unable to build, nor
can it hope to get the money save by a gift from the legislature. General
Graham thinks they will appropriate $30,000. Governor Moore, though in favor of
doing so, has his doubts and was candid enough to say so. Without that it will
be impossible for me to bring you south even next winter. The legislature meets
in the latter part of next January and we cannot even get our pay until they
appropriate, but they must appropriate $8,1001 because it belongs
lawfully to the Seminary. . .
_______________
1 Interest on the Seminary land fund. - Ed.
SOURCES: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T.
Sherman as College President, p. 84-6
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