Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 11, 1861
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 11, 1861
transcriberTranscriber:spp:gew
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1861-12-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 11, 1861
action: sent
sender:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Washington D.C. DC
Place
Name: City: Washington D.C.
County:
State: DC
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Lazette Worden
Person
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: gew
revision: ekk 2015-07-01
<>
Page 1
Wednesday Dec 11th
My dear Sister
I would have written
the day after our pleasant
visit from Washington but
did not feel quite well
enough. I felt so well Sunday
and did so many things
that I was obliged to pay
the penalty the next day[ . ]
Reason:
I wished often as we all
did that you were with
us Sunday. I have not
talked ^with Henry^ so much & so satis-
factorily in a year. Saving
Miss B.
there was no drawback upon
the most confidential conver-
sation. It was so pleasant to
see the faces of Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
& Anna
Name: Anna Seward
Birth: 1836-03-29
Death: 1919-05-02
- all looking well[
.
]
Reason:
Page 2
Henry asked many questions about
all at home - said I must tell
you that he would meet you
halfway if you would come
to Washington at almost any
time. I wish you could.
We talked over various matters
military Political civil &
Social. There is no truth in
any of the Newspaper reports
of differences in the Cabinet
all goes on harmoniously though
every man has his own opinion
of affairs. One of the most impor-
tant questions on the subject of
immediate emancipation is this
What would be done with the
coloured people. There are 24,000
in Chaleston
Name: City: Charleston
County: Charleston
State: SC
Country: US
.
Where could they go
Would Mr Wright
Name: David Wright
Birth: 1806-03-18
Death: 1897-02-24
be
willing
to take 2 or 3000 into our
city, and see that they
are cared for. The Government
Page 3
cannot furnish food for 4
million and supply an annuity
of 1/2 a million at the same
time. Immediate Colonization
is impossible. If territory
can be obtained by treaty it
would take time and money
which are neither of them at
command in these times.
It is hoped by the benevolent
that the Institution of Slavery
must fall before the advance
of a more christian civilization[ . ]
Reason:
It would not be humane to
hasten it at the expense of the
suffering and lives even of
those we wish to benefit.
Many good and wise men who
have heretofore advocated imme-
diate emancipation now see its
impracticability. I think the
Restitution of fugitives will not
be longer tolerated by the Northern
Page 4
people and it ought not. And
I trust that a way will
be shown for the final over-
throw of this great wrong.
The 75th have gone to Ft Pickens
Name: City: Fort Pickens
County: Escambia County
State: FL
Country: US
.
They are highly commended
and selected to go South for
their efficiency. Henry and
Anna were to write the
officers of Capt. Kennedy
Name: Gilbert Kennedy
Birth: 1827
Death: 1863-09-22
’s artillery
company to dinner this week.
Fanny
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1844-12-09
Death: 1866-10-29
and I tried to find the
Miss Townsends
Name: Marion Townsend
Birth: 1827
Death: 1914-03-02
Name: Eliza Townsend
Birth: 1819
Death: 1910-01-18
yesterday,
following
the directions of a card they left
but we failed to find them[ . ]
Reason:
No such persons were there.
I am glad Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
’s family has
diminished - it was too large
for her comfort - love to her &
to Will
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1839-06-18
Death: 1920-04-29
and Jenny
Name: Janet Seward
Birth: 1839-11-18
Death: 1913-11-09
. I think
Augustus will come for us
about Christmas. I have your
letter of Friday - am sorry
you were not very well[ . ]
Reason:
Page 5
The Plitts
Name: Sophia Plitt
Birth: 1845-04
Death:
Certainty: Probable
Name: George Plitt
Birth: 1832-11-06
Death: 1901-09-27
Certainty: Probable
came to see us at the
Continental. I did not let them know
I was staying
here so they thought me of the
Washington party. Your own Sister
Wednesday Dec 11th
My dear Sister
I would have written
the day after our pleasant
visit from Washington but
did not feel quite well
enough. I felt so well Sunday
and did so many things
that I was obliged to pay
the penalty the next day[ . ]
Supplied
I wished often as we all
did that you were with
us Sunday. I have not
talked ^with Henry^ so much & so satis-
factorily in a year. Saving
Miss B.
Unknown
who was a strangerthere was no drawback upon
the most confidential conver-
sation. It was so pleasant to
see the faces of Augustus
Person
Fred
Person
Person
Supplied
Henry asked many questions about
all at home - said I must tell
you that he would meet you
halfway if you would come
to Washington at almost any
time. I wish you could.
We talked over various matters
military Political civil &
Social. There is no truth in
any of the Newspaper reports
of differences in the Cabinet
all goes on harmoniously though
every man has his own opinion
of affairs. One of the most impor-
tant questions on the subject of
immediate emancipation is this
What would be done with the
coloured people. There are 24,000
in Chaleston
Place
Would Mr Wright
Person
to take 2 or 3000 into our
city, and see that they
are cared for. The Government
cannot furnish food for 4
million and supply an annuity
of 1/2 a million at the same
time. Immediate Colonization
is impossible. If territory
can be obtained by treaty it
would take time and money
which are neither of them at
command in these times.
It is hoped by the benevolent
that the Institution of Slavery
must fall before the advance
of a more christian civilization[ . ]
Supplied
It would not be humane to
hasten it at the expense of the
suffering and lives even of
those we wish to benefit.
Many good and wise men who
have heretofore advocated imme-
diate emancipation now see its
impracticability. I think the
Restitution of fugitives will not
be longer tolerated by the Northern
people and it ought not. And
I trust that a way will
be shown for the final over-
throw of this great wrong.
The 75th have gone to Ft Pickens
Place
They are highly commended
and selected to go South for
their efficiency. Henry and
Anna were to write the
officers of Capt. Kennedy
Person
company to dinner this week.
Fanny
Person
Miss Townsends
People
the directions of a card they left
but we failed to find them[ . ]
Supplied
No such persons were there.
I am glad Clara
Person
diminished - it was too large
for her comfort - love to her &
to Will
Person
Person
Augustus will come for us
about Christmas. I have your
letter of Friday - am sorry
you were not very well[ . ]
Supplied
The Plitts
People
Continental. I did not let them know
I was staying
here so they thought me of the
Washington party. Your own Sister
date:
Wednesday, December 11, 1861
receiver:
sender:
year: