January 1st, 1861.—A New Year has come to us now. This is dear Grandmother’s birthday and, though she went to Heaven years ago, her children still meet on her anniversary and talk of her and of the days of their childhood. I like it and I never will forget when Father’s and Mother’s birthdays come. As we sat around the long table today the conversation turned on the convention, so soon to meet in Tallahassee. Father said he considered this the most momentous year in the history of the South. He is for Secession and he does not think that war will necessarily follow. Brother Junius is a strong Union man and he thinks we will certainly have war; he says we will have war in any event. If the South secedes the North will fight to keep us, and if we do not secede all our property rights will be taken from us and we will be obliged to fight to hold our own. He says he is in for the fight but he wants to fight in the Union not out of it. Father thinks it is more honorable to take an open and decided stand and let all the world know what we are doing. Everyone at table who expressed an opinion was firmly set against the Republican party. Mother says she wants the negroes freed but she wants the United States Government to make laws which will free them gradually. All agree on one point, if the negroes are freed our lands will be worthless. I wonder how it would feel to be poor and work like the people Hannah Moore writes about?
