[Diary] Sunday, February 1.
General Saxton and Captain Hooper were over to church and to the Oaks to dine. General Saxton takes a gloomy view of our holding these islands. General Seymour says they must be held. General Saxton is much opposed to the sale of the land to speculators. He thinks they ought to be preempted by the people, or else so divided and sold that the people can buy, and not be left a prey to greedy speculators and large landholders. He thinks matters are being, injuriously to the people’s interests, hurried forward in favor of purchasers. He is much troubled and grieved about it. I suggested that Hunter should stop the sale. General Saxton caught at the idea. He went to Hilton Head yesterday and the sales are stopped as a military necessity. General Hunter wants to know first where he shall put refugees who come every day, and where he shall get timber for Government uses after the lands are sold; whence, too, will come supplies for his army.
