_Dec. 27._ We are busy ginning and packing. Both men and women are
hard at work, and till 3 o'clock P. M. the scene is almost one of
Northern industry. There is more noise, less system and steadiness.
Now and then two or three break out into a quarrel, in which they
excel all other people I ever saw with their tongues,--tremendous
noise, terrible gestures, the fiercest looks,--and perhaps by evening
they are friends again. Meanwhile the others sit still at their work,
listening to it as a matter in the common course of things,--and will
tell how _they_ love peace and quiet; it will be their own turn next!
In all their faults,--passion, lying, stealing, etc.,--they are
perfectly conscious of the sin; and the same ones whom it would be
impossible to stop, except by force, in their tempests of rage, will
when quiet talk as sensibly of their folly as any one could desire.
They seem to have a very delicate conscience without the slightest
principle. That this want of principle is not innate and not their own
fault, I think is proved by their consciences remaining true. Their
state of morals I should say is decidedly better than it was under
slavery,--less of licentiousness, lying, and stealing,--and more
general manliness and self-respect. But they are very far behind, in
character as well as intelligence, and I suspect that most
abolitionist views of their character are exaggerated in their favor.
It increases the need and it does not decrease the interest of helping
them, to think so. Many a talking abolitionist would be disgusted into
indifference, and many a hearty hater of the talk would be surprised
into interest and favor, if they lived here for six months. It's
pretty hard sometimes to find your best men lying to you, or your most
trusty people ungrateful and distrusting you,--and then again a light
breaks out where you thought there was neither fuel nor fire. The most
encouraging symptom is the clearly increasing influence which the best
of the people are acquiring,--so that there certainly is a _general_
improvement.
1864
_The land-sales of 1864, contradictory orders--Discontent
among the negroes about wages--Small-pox on the
plantations--The chattel sale--Labor contracts for the
season--Newspaper attacks on Mr. Philbrick--The raid on
Morgan Island--Mr. Philbrick's plans for the future--The
black draft--Red tape--Approach of Sherman and the battle of
Honey Hill._