David P. Williams, Natchez Planter, Manuscript Archive Regarding Secession 

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Nov 21, 2014 - Nov 22, 2014

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• Lot Description
  David P. Williams, Natchez Planter, Manuscript Archive Regarding Secession 
  
  23 items.
  
  This interesting archive of letters is written by Natchez plantation owner and slaveholder David P. Williams to William H. Anderson regarding finding private teachers for the children of Natchez’s planter elite. Ranging from April 1859 to April 1861, these letters cover a tumultuous time in the history of the Deep South.
  
  The first letter, dated April 20, 1859, is to the Rev. I.W. Hough, asking him to find another teacher in addition to his brother Joel, who is already on his way to Natchez. Mr. Williams requires a moral man, and if he were studying for the ministry would much prefer it as we are very much in want in this neighborhood of someone to preach to our negroes. In addition to qualifications in the different subjects, and being a good disciplinarian, and importantly that is his views in regard to our institutions, if they are not entirely sound, all other requirements would be counteracted.
  
  The remaining letters are to William H. Anderson, the man who previously taught at William’s Sligo plantation. Anderson returned North after catching yellow fever, and Williams asked for help in finding a replacement teacher. The Williams, who considered Anderson as family, kept trying to entice him back to Sligo Plantation, but finally realized his health would not allow it. On October 29, 1860, Williams writes to say that he has offered the job to Anderson’s old classmate, J. Oscar Tiel (see Lot 125 for Tiel’s adventures in Natchez).
  
  January 1861 brought tragedy to the Williams, as their fourth child in 15 months died of disease. He speaks of the breakup of the United States: The state of our Country is giving us all great anxiety, but I am at last persuaded that it is broken to splinters. peaceably if we can, fighting if we must. I know that there is a great conservative feeling at the North, but even with them, the feelings of aversion to our institutions are such that they are passive even if they could control the lunatics, which I do not believe they can. Then again, if we are to continue our institutions, we will never be as strong again as now. We would have to make such demands as cannot be granted, and I do not believe we can depend on the Constitution, if amended to suit us now, when all the power of the government is in the hands of a Republican party. I have been a long time coming to this belief, and feel very sad it must be so…
  
  On March 11, 1861, Williams writes Anderson to inform him that Tiel has decided to return North, since the formation of the Confederacy. He expressed hope that secession would be peaceful but assures Anderson there is no chicken hawk in what has been done here. April 2, He writes Anderson, asking him to be on the lookout for the right sort of man to reopen the school in September. This was not to be, as Fort Sumter was fired upon ten days later, igniting the Civil War. 
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