June 5th, 1858.—Sister Mag has a number of new songs and I always sit beside her when she is learning them, even if I have to study out of hours to get my lessons; last night, I sang one of these songs with her, she said I sang it all right. It is a patriotic song; there is a colored picture of The Star-Spangled Banner on the cover and the tune is fine, also the words.
Today I went to ride with Father and we were talking of Sister Mag and I offered to sing the pretty new song for him. When I sang
“Oh, perish the heart and the hand
That would mar our motto of
Many in one,”
Father said, “Take care, my baby, you may be calling down condemnation on your own.” Of course I wanted to know what he meant, for “E Pluribus Unum” had seemed a beautiful sentiment to me. Then Father, explained what he meant, for the first time I heard of the strong, deep feeling of dislike and mistrust, which existed between the North and the South. For the first time the much dreaded Abolitionists took a tangible form.
I asked many questions and Father answered patiently and when we reached home he called me to the library and gave me a book. by John C. Calhoun to read. He said I could come to him if there was anything I did not understand.
The doctrine of State’s Rights is very clear, perhaps it is clearer because I. have so often heard it discussed by Father and the various gentlemen, who talk with him in the library. I study my lessons in there, and I sometimes stop to listen. I have learned more of the history of Virginia from the conversations between Father and Mr. Lane, who teaches in the Military School in Tallahassee, than I ever found in the books.
Susan Bradford is 12 years old when this entry was made. Her schooling is at home from a hired teacher and she has already had algebra, though she hates math.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020