Oct 6th 1860
Raleigh
Dr Sam G Lane!
Dear Cousin!
I have been intending to write to you ever since I left Pennsylvania, but have been prevented by sickness and [unclear: close ] confinement to the store — I recd. your letter last week & thank you truly for the courtesy and kindness of feeling it manifested you are not mistaken in regard to my feelings toward my friends [unclear: of] the good old Keystone” and a letter from home is indeed green spot in the cheerless [illeg.] deserts of North Carolina.
Immediately on receipt of yours I wrote – at considerable length – to Fitz Hugh stating every instance of my conclusion with
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McPherson and asking as a personal favor his reconsideration of the matter. I have not since heard from Fitz. H. but from previous knowledge of the man I fear he will not be likely to change his position if he has taken it against McP—– Feeling as I do under great obligation to McP. I should be very sorry to be made innocently the cause of anything sending to injure him — please explain this to him that he may not think me ungrateful for his many acts of kindness towards me. had I any influence in Franklin Co. I should certainly give it in his favor.
Political excitement is running high and all our banks have refused to discount till after the election. Great financial troubles [illeg.] [illeg.]
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of Lincoln’s election. Breckenridge will most likely carry this state though Bell will run him very close. Douglas will not poll a large vote as his supporters are very few & weak– I have been frequently questioned about my political views, and have expressed myself far more strongly in favor of the northern institutions than when in Penna. There is far more freedom of sentiment here than I supposed and I know several persons who take the N. Y. Tribune and read Helper, though a violent republican would not be tolerated and voting for Lincoln would be considered a capital offence. Should S. Carolina, Alabama, & Mississippi secede and an attempt be made to enforce Lincoln’s administration, N. Carolina will certainly join the ‘southern [illeg.] [illeg.] [unclear: under] no other
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circumstances.
I am not very much pleased with Raleigh. it is a remarkably slow & [unclear: aristocratic] place, been confined to the store from 6 A.M. to 11 P.M. I have seen very little of society – and – though noticed by several persons of position I shall mingle very little in it as I am still so much of a Yankee to submit to patronage. I do not think under present circumstances it would do to trouble McPherson though I should like very much to have a letter from him to Branch. I feel I may not be able to [unclear: retain] [illeg.] situation long, as I have been very sick nearly ever since my arrival and am too weak to attend to business as it should be done. Please do not mention that Miss [unclear: Wirginan] promised to express
(Source: Valley of the Shadow, University of Virginia)
