William D. Valentine Diary

[????] not apart its excelling which is [modern] led here at the [expence] of other[s] good looks written to support the divine code The Bible is [thereby] aims temperance and denounces [???????} yet is it wrong to write looks which also is [?????] temperance [?????] against in temperance by making thing[s] on [pathetic] appeals? name but ignorant people or drawn lovers can say this is wrong what I have to day in conclusion is in behalf of the churches reputated. This was above shok[ing] in of is not well [enlightened] in this christian deities the principles and prophecies of his [accord] [chill] is fifty years ago there were we [haet] and Bible so [cities] [vary] here if any for eager in from cities for reclaiming the weather['s] indeed all the [] benevolent be cities were [his] unkown it is will known that it requires [dowe] money to promote these institutions hence the objection to them by know not enlightened in regard to their [operation] and objects it is seen by the reading and observant pulled heat the world has already deserved much good from these benevolent [institutions] every christian church [??????] its duty to promote these institutions in [abundence] to the bible in support of the [Redelvner's] kingdom their preachers therefore slowed not only to favorable to [their] heart and hand but showed be will enlightened in regard to them this is [?????] for this interest and reputation of the churches [for] [we] of the churches at least all have in has been too negligent in regard to this matter and has [be] eluded ministers where [humans] in conseuqence of a want of proper light [?????] the principles of their church are more demoralising than christian song the hearers of luck nicer are [?????] their inferiors who form the best institutions very often believe the preachers doctrine correct and so frequenlty large neighborhood are [] inate doctrine [obvious] to christianity obnoxious to correct morals and enlightened sentiment and this often bring [] their church by accusing an ignorant [seed] conceited man to preach as is too often dove the church often received a blow without knowing from where if [????] feel the sting most seeing the viper the above preacher ought to seclude herself in serve church bestly untilhe be enlightened better their preacher

oaklawn june 13th 1837 a circumstance or affair having occurence in this neighborhood illustrates the wise sayinng never to let it be in the power of your best [friend] to in june you if he should he come your enemy and never form a decisive opinion or [ensure] [?????] until you have heard forth [sedes] of the subject I shall for private avocation make your remark on this affair first we should be his [hurtful] of lying jade madam [Rumor] whom black hearted [nillieues] often [display] as a fire runner [????] not day [harborger?] and predisposer to their fell purpose this remark may not so fully apply in this as in many but she lying rumor has been an outrageous slauderer in this case to narrate as briefly as [????] the affair this a young [man] an overseer and attempt to marry a young lady the word and mean relation of his employer the best authority gives the [] thus thieving the young lady's friends would be extremely opposed to his alliance with her the young [????] [?????] hope was to steal her off and marry having attained the lady's consent to this [curriers] resort he disposed matters accordingly by obtaining [because] a horse and [gig] at command a horse [and] as [??????] it to marry him by means of friends a little out of the neighborhood as to effectuate his purpose for this the young couple had previously agreed as well as an [?????] to enable to fly from the [] of the young ladys friends see things being ready, the lady being young and inexperienced wanted nerve the refused to go though [exemplified] her willful to go at another time which human averaging her affection for her lover in tender language an [earnestly] as this [allegation] however was most exactly according to their agreement and the narration being of important consequence I will [evaluate] all a [????] young lady of this neighborhood being an aquaintance of her a party to the [intended] marriage visited [Burhelnow] the seere seems to [loote] to spend the day with her knowing family recollecting heal the young fair [asperer]

a husband had some time before told the lady [resetaint] that whim his [cause] to Bethel again to lived for her tie young lover that they might [apalled] the day together as you ng lady's frequently do this happened to be the very day of the above [aligation] and intended to be the very day of the [visiter] not knowing a wrod of the intended [aligna tion] and attempt to marry [????] havimg never heard the [ation] of any thing pertaining to [coivtshep] and love [beteveer] the twoin question complied [winte] the other's requell- by sending for her before the young arrived her intended [hus] loud came to the brother's of the lady [visitault] by was quite early in the day and this young lady was well acquainted with the family in whose humor was, so the ladies here began to reproach him in good humour for leaving work or his field of negroes at that time of day. His answer was I have come to get marriage where is many! The two listens the visiter and her brother's wife were surprise to astonishment at his [enpleatie] and earnest of the overseer. The visiter howeever answered "I have send for [herto] spend the day with us. The lady of the house said you shall not be married here" ro which the young man replied "we are not going to bemarried here we are going else where [mentioning] the plagued telling who was earning after them him and thi give, with a gig to carry them away, he [furleck] a more [thees] (a quarter of a mileoff) and there take her up in the gig; but hearing his was here continued the overseer I came for the purpose of carrying her away now. by this time [Mup M.] the young slut for and to whom the over seer said he was to be married arrived The ladies the sisters suprised at the novelty of the overseer's story, went [mif] when she earn took hold of and playfully hook her and told her that they, had just understood she was going to be married and hour soon mifs affected surprise at this and rider [be] the was surprised that these ladies knew it and one cause of surprise to her was that the hour of [apigna tion] had not yet arrivedfor this was to be about [fool] amwhereas this was about for part a little. So rhese ladies the young [mifs] affected surprise at marrying which affecta tion was [????] percieved for the sisters relived into another

The young man just gave (omitted) the youth and inexperience of this quite young lady had precepitat into an [unpraull?] which she either lead or world repeut of and that they would not explore her by devulging what they knew not withs founding tthis promise not to divulge tee ladies sisters coined not divest their minds of the opinion thatyoung [mip] would still marry the young man she kissprofeped to love so as juously. nearly a week papes away are any thing more is heard of this affair was hot the whole was discovered and that the friends of the young lady who was so near being wived costed the whole blame on the fanily in which the scene above deseribed happened ( I say happened for luck was never intended to be there) The gentleman of the house was not at at home not withstanding on his head the luck blame way hurled as well as on his wife and sister the visiter. mentioned. The gentleman was ignorant of every thing of the kind until his wife informed when he came home and as his wife as he said had promised [mp N.] to keep her case a secret she duly made her husband an exception on account of so serious an affair happeningat his house in his overseeres and persisted his secrecy too which he thought prudent now comes the practical exemplications of the wisdom of those saying mentioned at the begining of this account letters breathing anger and vengeance [??????] with [grasert] abuse was slut by [Mip M's] guardian to the gentlem an at Bethel charging him his wife aand sister with having tried to [undull?] his young ward against her will and almost indefiance of her, to runaway with, and marry his overseer. for more than a week the guardian was a madman without reasow releesing to hear the true story and nothing but severst retaliation and revenge it is to be remarked here that the gentleman spoken of and the guardian were and had been for two or three years previous the best of friends and were obliged to one anohter for many favors but he to whom by far the greater part of

gurtleobligations were due was the guardian who being the wealthier and certainly kind natured had done many favors for the man he now held in such expectation. The wrong version of this affair spread over the county and community at large likewild fire gathering as it spread the young lady had many respectable friends who made the first inprefsion but not one who consulted realtor believed the story against the gentleman his lady and sister the guardian's brothers and many his relating still were friendly with the accriminnated man and blamed their brother and tried to bring him to reason butin vain here was a bright fine harmony in a neighborhood and a cooler of friendship between families. The young lady it seems was freed to a disclose the whole matter whom it was known she was carried in toa room and on [ingeusition?] [????] [spanish?] rear impose on her the being in a novel situation young [?????] and mortified [????] [?????] best take the could for herself knowing the blame on the above mentioned ladies, declaring she had never promised to marry, that she was taken by surprise and nearly fereed off by the two ladies who were present. This take so couple ly exculpated young [Mip M.] in the opinion recepary to shield the young lady's standing a can thary opinion is now gaining growth and until it be sew what will be this uphhot, I forbear to write work about it. I think I have been quite imartial in the above narration. [lousidining?] the indigiation with whiel I have been [accaroually?] filled in relation to his affair one might be suppose that was not impartial. But have when I undertake to tell facts, hurtle is my guele nut even my imclination loan prevaricate from the bath

Oak Lawn 14th (W.) 1837 The Times. we after hear of hard times. indeed it is the cout of all times, by croakers and those who look ouly truth dark side of the wheel of fur time. but if those ouly are called croakers who coun plain of "hard times" and look on the dark side of fur time's wheel, senely this whole notion are at this time croakers reliving things as all blacknep thinking themselves earelped in dark nep which they know not how to dispel these alas! are hard times and us jesring matter. For the fountains of trade and enterprise and the common [?????] of the whole county, of every neighborhood answer and there will be perceived [???? ??] very faces and excitement enough to convince the most incredselous there the present times are so hard, that healing who are the life of a [??????] prosperity are so "hard run" for many that their cry is a generla disthep. Hundreds if good in[??? ???] families what have for many years by aged a fortime the fruits of thier houlof in dusty are daily reduced to beggary. A storm is raging witle fearful [veuleall?] over the wide spread courthy. All the barks with little or no exception have stopt specie ipues the [solveiay] of bark notes are of course much doubted as money cannot be had produce of all kinds is depreciated town to half its value and at this half price moneycannot be had. The great staples of this mighty confederacy cotton and to fa ced is fallen down to half price and at this money cannot be obtained. The wealthier and here tofore most prosperous men are now hardest preped for money the property of marry is

sold for a pittance in all pete of them. The course quence is, many, very many, of this clap of the life blood of any and all visitors, must fail, often break and as it is from this clap, heat money and employ ment flow to the hard working and pou rer clapes, it inventably follows heat these latter clapes must be deeply injured and in many instances sunk into extreme and equallid poverty. A certain cause has caukered hall and the monetary work and but few know where ot is and their opinion as to this cause both sides know and acknowledge there is a cause for they deel its effects to their sorrow. The great map of the nation that understand nothing of the course hear by its consequence are entitled to have this cause hold up to them to see it unfolded and hear it explained in doing this one giant prejudices to be combatted, the popularity of one man unfortunately it is a most in auspicious moment to inprep the great map of the nation with the real certain facts in relation to the cause of the present unprecedented pres june throughout the whole nation from the [?????] of Texas, from the [????] to the western wilds. The nation is too much phrase yield with manworship whatever conflicts with the doing of their idol, " one man", they human idol was a heal duty inspired will supernatural virtue and with wisdom nearly I give land with those attributes of leeity understood as [?????] [??????] and omni preluce it is to be lamented that the people have so much confidence in the indegrity and perfection and ability of Andrew Jackson

heal they believe him incapable of any I nor in the performance of duties have puzzled the wisest and greatest men heal ever lived,- statesmen, philosophuly men trained by science skilled in poe, teas, and learned in the law. for these illustrsied worthies have sued, they acknowledge their their best friends acknow. ledge it, in thesis change of andrews duties in grave, profound and complex busine. Yet the great map of the American people believe Genl Andrew Jackson incapable of such error, they believe him too wise to fallen to error too [omitted] upright to incur a fault, though it be to gratify vindictive feeling for which heal notable human creators is remarka ble and is heralded, for harbouring in his bre ast to an extreme and merciful extent, a point to a dagger, or to the extent of pistols abreast to the hazzard of human life for it is well known that working destination is a ruling pulsing against whatever opposes nothing [???] than accent to whatever [????] however neglecting nothing [???] than [????] in whatever he wishes to accomplish however unregliteous, "in call ed for, im wise and vindictive" ( above [???] days) can return him to his pipe in quietly but to quit this incidental degrepion from the main cuase of the pullied is [???]. The administration of girl. Jackson conerining a horror again the late look of the invited states aid outrage is at the expense of law, and undertook a scheme to expelpaper money and in [?????] nothing but hard money for this purpose, a system was adopted to uoist the specie from europe to his country for a while property here popped up above its

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real value - the people now rejoiced with living in a golden age Cotton, tobacco and every thing we sent to Europe brought very high prices - people as is natural and laudable, embarked in large speculations. But the Bank of England f the place of money negotiation, finding that its specie was about to be drained from its valuts, with the counsel of British government sentinels who discovered the policy of this government, refused spec-a (and notes are worth nothing unless specia can be had for them) to traders. No money being to be had, cotton and every thing fell down which of course affected the growers of it in this country. In [course?] Jackson issued an order command ing nothing but species to be received for the public lands. To buy public therefor lands, therefore specie in inordiate quanfine tities was drawn from the the East to the west. These are some of the causes. Who did this A. Jackson what for? not for his country's weal, it is thought by a majori ty of the [Thuouing?] ones of this nation. The Presidents depositing the public revenue which he ordered to be removed from the U.S. Bank contrary to law and to Congress, into banks of his own selection denominated as pets, was another suspicious act which a wise statesman would have avoided. These banks the people were told, would supply the country with specia. -

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and for a while, these pet banks were hailed as the barbingers of "a golden age", the expellers of bank notes and the universal establishment throughout the nation of a hard money currency. But now these very pets being compelled like all the other banks to stop specia payment, the government organ at Washington the former trumpet of these banks' praises, now denounces them. So the little monsters are more unmanageable than the great one the U.S. Bank, so called by Mr. Beddle's enemies. All these things conspired to induce people to speculate more and more largely, as more was to be realized than usual by speculation, so people went deeper and deeper into it, cheered on by the government; prophetic war [illegible] to the countrary, till nearly all classes of speculaters and traders over traded themselves. The merchants of this coun try bought more goods in Europe than they could sell here so as to meet their payment demands expecting to pay for these [illegible] goods with produce which was very high - when lo! as before said, the English Bank refused specie, - then the produce was worth little or nothing. All this why one well acquainted with the politics of this nation must know, is a consequence of the policy of our government. Although there is [specu en?]- [angle?] to pay our debts, the nation may be said to be bank rupt, and will be so considered un til our debts in Europe be paid in specie. This nation then may be likened unto a ship in the difficulty and with great trouble, weathering a raging storm. When the above system to drive away paper and bring in nothing but gold and silver money, was first put in motion, saga cious statesmen presaw the direful consequences and prophecied aloud - as the tempest - was impending over the nation. We are now struck by the squall and all must know thier predictions are fufilled. This may furnish an idea of the present condition of the U.S. -