Foust2

Transcription: 

State of Ala Jefferson Co
Dec 14 1860
Dear father and friends I take my
pen in hand this evening to write you
a few lines to let you know that we
are all well at present hoping these
lines may find you all well. I receive
your letter last knight which afforded
me great satisfaction to hear from you
we was sorry to hear that Joseph
was so unwell we hope however that
these lines will find him enjoying
better health the connection here are all
well so far as I know and the people
generally are healthy in old Jefferson
I believe since I wrote to you I
have decided what I think is best
to do in the present political crisis
from the best information that I can
get cesesion is the best thing that
we can do for how can we live togeth-
er except to be agreed. and that we
are not agreed now is evident therefore
I think it best that we do as did
Abraham and Lot Abraham said to
Lot that if you will take the left
I will side right or if you will thake the
[page 2]
right I will tak the left. so I think
it is best for us to do as a Nation
it has been for years that we could
not live together religiously simply
because we were not agreed the men
at the north avowed thier determianation
to put the Negro upon an equality
with us and if they do this they will
have to degrade us and bring us to thier
level because they can never be reared
to a level with the white man take
the history of Nations that have
put themselves and thier Negroes to a
level and you will find that degra-
dation and ruin has been the result
Mexico has done this thing and at this
time they are in a wretched condition
they have one Revolution after another
all the time the Negro without a
master will not work he would not
do anything but steal for aliving this
is not my own experience so much as
the history of the race their history is
so far as I can find out that they
are in their best condition when in
bondage then the care of government
does not rest upon them they know
that if they work all goes right but
[page 3]
when they have the care of governemnt
on thier minds they are at a loss to
know how to manage they fall out
about thier government fight over
it kill and eat one another and if
mixed with the white race and alowed
the privilige of a white man what do
you think they would do would not
they capture every white woman that
they could find alone carry them off
to be thier wives does not thier history
confirm this to be so I will leave
this subject with you as you are older
that myself it may be that I could
not enlighten you on this subject.
we had a mass meeting at Clyton
the 1st of Decr I went down to
see if I could find out anything
there was a large croud there when
S. Mudd addressed the audience first
M. T. Porter and Allen Fuller Dr. James
Haughey Rev Benj Tarrant Gen
Moses Kely and Rev A. J. Waldrop
followed they all were in favor of
cesesion teeth and toe nail except
Mudd he was of the hang back sort
rather he said wait for the rest of
southern states and well go together
[page 4]
I have wrote now more than I
expected so I believe I will quit
so no more at present
write soon and
let me hear from you all
give my respects
to all enquiring friends
we are with
respect your son and daughter until
death
C.W. and
M. D. Foust

Date: 
December 14, 1860

Author(s)

Unit: 
Co. B, 10th Alabama Infantry
Residence (County): 
Jefferson County, AL

Recipient(s)

Residence (County): 
Shelby County, AL

From

From State: 
Alabama
From County: 
Jefferson

To

To State: 
Alabama
To County: 
Shelby

Transcription/Proofing Info

Transcriber: 
Judith Bridges
Transcription Date: 
April, 2011
Proofer: 
Michael Ellis
Proof Date: 
May, 2013

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