Among the more reliable private observations were these 1850s diary entries of General John Hartwell Cocke, of Albemarle County, whose manuscript diary is preserved in the John Hartwell Cocke Papers, Box 188, MSS 640, in the Special Collections Department at UVA. *[January 26 February 15[note 1], 1853]* The Rev. Lemuel Hatch late of No[rth] Carolina informed me, that *two wealthy friends* of his of the old No[rth] State has lately each sent away from their premises a slave woman with quite a large number of children the illegitimate spawn of the *Institution*, begotten in social contact with their lawfull wives and white children. The one sent his to Ohio. The other to our Northern Cities, a sample of the moral and social blessing of The Institution corruptions it will be answered by the advocates of the system but it is too well known they are not few, nor far between. I can enumerate a score of such cases in our beloved An[cien]t Dominion that have come in my way this life, without seeking for them. Were they enumerated with the statistics of the State, they would be found by hundreds. Nor is it to be wondered at, when Mr. Jefferson's notorious example is considered. Sustained by other such dignitaries of the Republic as Rich[ar]d M. Johnson of K[entuck]y cum multis aliis[note 2] politicians of high standing. While the monstrous doctrine finds men in all other respects respectable, who assert, that Slavery is a moral, Social, and political blessing. They must be confronted with the undeniable facts however disgusting the exhibit. *[April] 23 [1859]. [Cocke is traveling in Alabama]* Cold enough for Frost this morning. Called up at 1 pm of and embarked an hour afterwards in the Dalmuca[note 3] Steamer, Capt. Burkly. A very rich planter named Nixon,[note 4] Batchelor, of Lounds Co. [i.e., Lowndes County] opposite Venon[note 5] has built a splendid ma[n]sion costing about $100 000 including a picture Galery and lives in known connection with a Mulatto Girl. There [are] many fine mansions building now in Ala[bama] but this is the first of the splendid sort I have heard of inhabited by a Mulatto Slave Mistress. The defenders of the Institution omit to look at this feature, that all Batchelors, or a large majority at least, keep as a substitute for a wife some individual of the[ir] own Slaves. In Virginia this damnable practice prevails as much as any where, and probably more, as Mr. Jefferson's example can be pleaded for its defense. I have known this excuse for the vice alledged with evirtuation[note 6], and our Northern Brethren are abused as more culpable than ourselves Because of the Brothels to be found in her Great Cities. NOTES 1 The previous entry is dated Jan. 26, 1853, and this entry immediately follows the words: "Availed myself of the good weather in the early part of Feby to visit" several people. The next entry in the diary is dated Feb. 15. 2 *Cum multis aliis*: Latin for "with many others." 3 Reading of this word uncertain jk. 4 "named Nixon" added at foot of page jk. 5 Reading of this word uncertain jk. 6 *Evirtuation* appears to Cocke's coinage from *evirtuate* (*OED :* (i.e., "to take away the virtue of, to deprive of authority, power, or strength"). Cocke's assertion seems to be that southerners used Jefferson's example to evirtuate Northern criticism of slavery. Alternative readings from the manuscript could be *eventuation* or (less likely) *enervation*. -- Jon Kukla www.JonKukla.com <http://www.jonkukla.com/> On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 12:50 PM, Ray Bonis <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Look, Mr. South, T. Jefferson brought this on himself by OWNING SLAVES.... > > SO GET OVER IT > > > [log in to unmask] wrote: > >> "including Thomas Jefferson" is a fact not in evidence, but is beginning >> to be accepted by some as a fact since it is so often repeated by those who >> seem to wish it to be true for some reason. >> J South >> >> ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html