Athens Dec 22 1849
Dear Father,
Uncle John sent Johnny "Gullivers Travels" and Howell "City Cries" and "the world of fun" and me "Aasops Fables." Henry and I broke my pony for me and he was much gentler than I thought he would be Uncle John sent me and Howell two white puppies. Their names are pedler and tinker, he sent us two hogsheads of yam potates. Old Jim is silly sometimes. New hope and Uncle John horse. Peter works until toydher(?) James got plank from the saw mill and made a shelter in the grove for the ponies to stand under. uncle John is going to send us a lot of sugar cane.
Your affectionate son,
Lamar Cobb
Macon February 5th 1851
My Dear Mother
Uncle John has bought me a gun and he went with me Friday before last out to the plantation and killed four sparrows and Johnny killed two sparrows and one field lark and Uncle John killed six doves and four black birds and he is going carry us down to the plantation again on Friday. Mr. Mead has turned me back in history and when I came here I was studing latin reader and Mr. Mead put me back in the history of Saere. Tell Howell me and Johnny would answer his letter but it is german and we cannot read it. Me and Johnny send our love to all
Your affectionate son
Lamar Cobb
Athens Sept. 13th 1851
My dear Uncle
As today is Saturday I thought I would write to you. Sister has four little kittens that Howell gave her and, she is all the time with one in her hands. I am getting along in latin very well I have commenced latin reader since I saw you and I an reading and parsing. The small boys bought a rope and put a swing at the school house and when school is out-we-swing- and sometimes I swing in the large boys swing as they have a larger one. Sometimes, I come home and read in my histories, and some times I ride on the pony. Last Saturday I was out at grandmama's , playing with cousin Johnny Rutherford and Tommy Glenn and Johnny and Howell, and we went out to the field and got as many wild grapes as we wanted and a few muskadines. And just before we came away we went and got a calf and shove him from the field to the horse lot. Mr. Prince says if you see Mr. Boykin tell him that he and Aunt Mattie go to the botanical garden every day courting and giving each other presents. Sister gave me a kiss to send to you she is out in the porch helping Mama measure out molasses for the negroes—Mama and all the family write with me in much love to you-Papa is still in the up country-
Your affectionate nephew
Lamar Cobb
Roswell June 21, 1852
My Dear Mother
Johnny received your letter this morning stating that you expected a letter from me I set down to night to write to you. I have learnt how to swim since I came up here but Johnny can beat me a long away. There two stores here where the boys get candies, shoes and boot buttons or any thing they want. There is two cotton factories here one is in operation the other is a new one not in operation yet they are just fixing the works to go to work with. I like Mr Pratt better than any school teacher I ever went to. I had rather stay with him than any school teacher I ever went too. I like Mr and Mrs Pratt and their children very well. Mrs. Pratt is very kind too the boys she will do anything for them they ask her to do for them When the boys want bread or anything between meals will just have to go to the kitchen which is a room in the and ask the cook it and she will give it to them. Tell Howell he must make haste and me a letter and I will answer it as quick as possible. Tell both of my little sisters I am going to write little letters on note paper to both of them. Tell Howell he must be in latin when I see him again ask him to send me a list of all the school boys that go to Mr. Scudder I am going to write to Mike Horne to nigh or tomorrow night. I am going to write to Papa sometime this week. I would write a longer letter but the bell is ringing for us to go to bed so I must stop now. Give my love to Howell and my two little sisters. All are well, me and Johnny join in sending our love to you.
Your affectionate son
Lamar Cobb
P.S. I wrote to Uncle John last night I would like to make a visit to Athens to see you but I do not think I will have a chance. You must come up and see us and our two sisters and with you soon.
Columbus, Ga., March 29, 1850
Dear Howell:
I have had your letter of the 20 inst., for several days. A quite annoying effect of a severe cold has hitherto kept me from answering it. My opinion on the slavery question remains without any change. The developments since I saw you have indeed confirmed them. In regard to acting on those opinions in the Nashville Convention should I be honored with a seat in it. I have stated my position in a letter to one of the Newspapers of this place. There is not now a copy of that paper to be had here. The same letter however will appear in the next week's 'Enquirer' (Columbus), and I will send you a copy of the paper. My opinions are shortly these: 1. The North already has the will to abolish slavery. 2. She is rapidly acquiring the power to execute this will. 3. These two propositions being true abolition is inevitable unless something shall be done to change this 'will' of the North, or to stop the acquisition of power. If there is a remedy within the Union embrace it by all means, if not, do not hesitate to go beyond for one. A remedy at any cost. Holding these positions you see that I am obliged to be opposed to any settlement of the Slavery question upon the basis of 'non-interference' viz: power of unlimited legislation by the people of the territories even whilst remaining in a territorial state. We did not fight the battle for Cass upon that view of the doctrine. We held - we and the South at least- that we might take our slaves to the territories running no other risk than a decision of the Courts against us upon the law as it stood affected by the treaty and by the constitution, not upon such laws as might be made by half breeds, Indians, and abolitionists, happening to be the 'prior inhabitants.' But indeed to be plain with you I must say that I regard the words "Non-interference" 'let us alone' in the mouth of the North at this time a little better than insulting mockery. Whilst they had virtue in them they were never uttered. Last year and up to the time when the North had secured California she spoke no other language but that of the Wilmot Proviso. Look at the resolutions of every northern state Legislature voted for by Democrats and Whigs with 'forty thieves' unanimity. No - the object being accomplished they perhaps are ready to give up the frenctus officio means. Non interference' will not stop at the acquisition of power on the part of the North. But if she will consent to the Missouri Compromise line being extended to the Pacific that will retard such acquisition. It is all foolish to say slavery won't go to California if it has half a chance. Dr. Gwinn makes an ass of himself on this subject. So I go for the Missouri C. line in the sense in which that line was first adopted. If the South in Congress will stand up for it as one man earnestly , resolutely not merely so as to throw dust in the eyes of us here at a distance it can be had. I suppose this is not be be expected. I fear that the next Presidential election like Philips' bag of gold is beginning to enter into the South. I must confess to you that I look with distrust upon Foote. If he expects the support of the South as Vice President upon a ticket with Cass, I shall have to say that in my opinion he will be deceived. You call my attention to the fact that one party is unanimous against a dissolution on the California issue and that no inconsiderable portion of the other is prepared to unite with them. Admit this to be so. Still I tell you that the votes of Southern men upon the question of its admission will be looked to. I do not believe that ten men are to be found in the state who are in favor of its admission as it stands. If we are to be degraded there is no reason why it should be done by our own cooperation. That the boundaries of California were made as they are in order to injure us no man doubts who is candid. Let the North ram worry down our throats. Never let us open our own mouths to swallow if of our own accord. But I think you deceive yourself to some extent as to Southern opinion. The "Union" sentiment in the South is [in] my opinion very unreliable. What Northern man can concentrate it upon himself for President. Not one. The fact is and it is useless for us to attempt to disguise it to ourselves. Seward speaks the view of the North and not Webster. But indeed if Webster spoke it it is but a pitiful squeak. It is all palaver. I take it that it may be assumed as true beyond question that no man-notone-North of Mason and Dixon's line is willing to see any measure adopted which shall really substantially strengthen the South. This being so, all talk is mere cheating. Bill's resolutions contemplate cutting up Texas into several slave states—as part of his project. I am opposed to any subdivision of Texas if California is to be admitted with it present boundaries and if a large slice of Texas is be sold to the North as the consideration. And this for at least two reasons. 1, We have already lost the Senate and a miss is as good as a mile. Two Senators from Texas will do us as much good as six if the six won't give us a majority. This they cannot do if we are to lose all the territory. 2. The amount to be paid to Texas will be money raised for the most part out of ourselves, that is to say the South is to pay Texas for relinquishing to the North land enough to make several non-slaveholding states. This may be a pretty business for the North and a fair one for Texas, but it is one which does not pay so far as the South is concerned. In respect to the institution of slavery Texas one is worth greatly more than Texas five. As things stand now much more as they soon will stand the doctrine of state rights will be the only security for slavery, and these rights are much more valuable when asserted by big states than by little ones. To conclude, my opinion is this in brief. Let every Southern man in Congress stand up to the rights of the South. Let him join in no humiliating compromise with the North. If she is dispossed to wrong us let her do it by her own action. Let the South say no California such as it now is,—no abolition of slavery or the slave trade in the District, no Wilmot Proviso, no robbing of Texas or rather the South, an extradition fugitive slave law that shall not be a mere dead letter. These are the primaries. As secondaries let her insist if California is forced in, that the Mexican War debt shall be paid out of the mineral lands with her bounds. That is fair, at least and then that a general law shall be passed guarding against such another California fraud. Let her secure these objects by resorting to every parliamentary device within her reach. If all fails then she will at least not have to reproach herself for the failure. Why should not the North be made to show her hand. Show this to whoever you please.
Sincerely,
Henry L. Benning [cousin]
The above letter is part of the Cobb-Erwin collection of the University of Georgia's Hargrett Rare Book Department
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