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[[underline]]1864[[/underline]]
Oct
6th
not speedily close. Either must become in time the scape goat for the numerous train of ill which ever follow the track of the chariot of war. In these sad days the President holds no enviable office.
7th  Went last evening to a festival at Mr Beecher's church. We were introduced to Mr. Beecher who said as Mr. [[Cuyler?]] presented us "the daughters of Prof. Henry that name is a passport anywhere" Mr Beecher is a stout good natured looking man very much like a [[fat?]] boy. There is a certain mirthfulness about him which is pleasing if one could quite get rid of the feeling that it is assumed for effect  His features are heavy & are more suggestive of good dinners than of intellect or great spirituality (My cousins accuses me of unkind criticism.) He made a speech during the evening It was not one of his brilliant efforts my memory has retained very little of it. One thing was worthy of note He said it was the object of the
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1864
North to free the negro not to pamper him  To lift from the heavy burden of slavery so that he migh stand forth ^a man If he could sustain that yoke could he not when emancipated from it go forth even as his white brother to work and warfare. Is he too weak for this then let him go down. Go down to what Henry Ward Beecher? To slavery again, or to be trodden as the dust under foot? To be hunted to the far corners of the earth as a burden and a curse? Strange philanthropy which thrusts upon these ignorant children of Nature a freedom in many cases undesired and casts them upon the cold charity of a selfish world. Children in helplessness, Men only in enlarged capacity for suffering. Were it kindness to tear a child from a parent protection, though that guardianship might perchance have been stern or even cruel ^only to leave the little ^one to perish from cold & starvation. Truly the tender mercies of the abolitionist are cruel.  Have passed the day at Central Park. Nell seemed [[benefitted?]] by the pure air but very tired.
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