Thomas Wright's Diary

September 1859

           1, September 1859

Poppy told me, Ma sent a letter made it ta the Home Stead, just fine her an Mrs.  Bowman went down tagether. Mrs. Bowman's brother Ted escorted them ta Virginia. Mrs. Bowman's family lives close by. Seems Em been in bad way fer a spell after havin Mike junior.  She should start her way home in about a week.

Last week of the harvest, thins look good fer us.
Should have plenty of money. Talked ta Poppy about clearin more land. Maybe put in thirty acres of tobacco next spring. He agreed means more money, also means more slaves from Rivers Edge.
Maybe the lumber all of it make up fer that. Me an Poppy have ta see if that will work. Ma took Betsy with her, she only trusts her fer treatin sickness even over a Doctor. Me an Poppy gots a bounty ta chase down. Leavin here in a bit.

                                3, September 1859

Goin inta the second full day. This Runner seems ta know what he is doin. Runner hasn't lost his scent, up near Bethel Ohio. Awful far north, don't like it not one bit. About noon Runner got hot on his trail.

Had him penned up a tree, lan sakes that nigra was a screamin like he was shot. I pull Runner back from the tree, Poppy was tellin the nigra ta come down. Man came up shoutin this is Moffard land!

Best state yar business! Poppy say we gots a fugitive Slave treed. Takin him back ta Kentucky!
Not off Moffard land ya won't! Big mistake this one worth 2,000 dollars. We ain't lettin this one go, no Sir we ain'ts.  Poppy was a might busy, I tell the man, the Law say we can retrieve him and take him back. Do ya want ta get the Law involved.

Now I am not wantin ta shoot the fool. Not in Ohio nope. I do puts my finger on the trigger not pointin it, just at the ready. Hate this can't make spit, my hands are sweatin. Why do it come down ta fools makin trouble? That Moffard fella he backed down, guess after seein I had a shotgun.

That nigra was sayin all he wanted was ta see his wife. She a free woman lives in town. She bought him then sold him off. He say she say he was a worthless nigger. I jus want pay back is all. Me an Poppy couldn't help but laugh. 2,000 dollar bounty an he is worthless. Told that Buck not worthless ta us. Guess she just wanted money is all. 

                              5, September 1859

My share 500 dollars, put back all but twenty. Don't need more than that. May come on hard times, never know. Me an Poppy had a steak fer supper over at the Maysville Hotel, we had beer an a whisky after supper. Spent the night at the New Place. Miss Betsy, I truly do. How could somethin so right be wrong?

                              12, September 1859

Uncle Thom came back, he say it damn hot, Mississippi ta damn hot. Then he say, why me an ya Poppy left Georgia. Heat ifin Hell is a lake a fire, then Georgia an Mississippi is it's cousin.

He told me an Poppy, he was done travlin. Ready ta stay a spell, in Kentucky. I knows uncle Thom ain't stayin more than a year at most. Get those walkin shoes on, an head west I bet. Told him he could stay out the Old Place. Plenty room an all.
He took me up on it. Might tired think I'll get some sleep.

                           22, September 1859

Thursday, Poppy got a letter from Ma, should be on the way. Supposed ta leave yesterday. Me an uncle Thom went ta Ripley, had a beer at Joe's Saloon.
Stopped by paid off that Parker. Told him fine job on those brackets fer my pulley on the barn. Should paid him in full, just worried money be tight. So I waited made small payments. Don't like it that way. Just never know. Joe gave me a copy of the Cincinnati Gazette. Got Mister Lincoln's speech in Cincinnati in it. Wonder what that Abolitionist has ta say.

Joe is doin good, tell me make a point ta stop in, more often. I say give it a good try Sir. Thom he is a character now. See why think he don't give a care. Pulled me away from work taday. Should of been workin around the farm. Lan sakes look at that paper in the mornin. Tuckered out tell you.

                      23, September 1859

From what I can see, ifin I am readin this right. That Lincoln don't want ta abolish Slavery, he maybe against it. The Constitution say other wise.
He just wants any new states ta be free. Still think that left up ta the people, no one else. Theo wants nothin ta do with Slavery, may not like it. Gots ta own Betsy, both us livin tagether her free. Let's say could get me an her killed. People don't take ta that. Besides it is the States choice. Won't leave my home, or force a change in law.

My thinkin is like the cotton gin someone find away ta make machines ta do the work. Say Slavery won't last much longer any ways. Least that is my thoughts. Could be wrong.

                     Part of Lincoln's Speech
                                  1859

" It has occurred to-me here to-night that if I ever do shoot over the line into a slave state, and purpose to do so, keeping my skin safe, that I have now about the best chance I shall ever have."

" I should not wonder if there are Kentuckians about this audience -- we are close to Kentucky; and whether that be so or not, we are on elevated ground, and, by speaking distinctly, I should not wonder if some of the Kentuckians would hear me on the other side of the river. For that reason I propose to to address a portion of what I have to say to the Kentuckians."

I would go on with it, if you care to read the rest you can kind find it at www.classicreader.com, Lincoln speech at Cincinnati, Ohio September 17, 1859.
Lincoln spoke in Columbus, Ohio, Dayton, a whistle stop in Hamilton then Cincinnati, why Cincinnati at the time, it was the 7th largest city in the Union. Plus a border state.

About 3,500 people attended the speech that lasted about two hours. Most were standing, don't think I could stand that long. I thought my writing was long winded. Well thanks other than that speech no history tidbits. Thanks for your support vote comment if you please.