Monday April 2d

Dear Mr. May,

Your welcome letter, and the money, came duly to hand. Lucy paid for the bbl. with other "contraband" freight we brought, with money she had for the purpose. In regard to "mixed schools," I regret that I am obliged to say, not what I think, but what I know; id est, they are an impossibility. I feel confident they would be of no benefit to the blacks in Md. Va. N. C. S. C. Ga. and Ala., consequently I cannot see how they will work well, in any part of the South.

No one is more anxious than I that the Southern whites should be elevated; but my life is consecrated to the blacks.

Since all are friendly to the whites, there is a certainty that their cause will not suffer. If the few friends of the Freedmen continue in their special field, I think they will be far better satisfied, in the end. Enough will be done for the whites, with-out the combination, and far less for the blacks, will be accomplished through it than is now. I think no one who has been in the field could differ from me. How long it took the enlightened North to make the experiment of mixed schools a success! I am not sure that they could yet be pronounced successful except in a few districts. Think how much the South is behind the North in civilization, and how much worse the feeling is between the whites and the blacks! Wishing well to all mankind, I have much desired to see a movement for the elevation of the Southern whites: (though I feel it no duty to take part in the work, their being plenty of people for it) and have had this matter on my mind throughout my Southern life and have talked Education and Industry to them whenever I have met them; and on my own responsibility urged them to go to the "Yankee Schools," knowing what a benefit it would be to the blacks, to be thus associated with the whites they are to have dealings with in future. But though the parents were "wishing their children had the advantages the Niggers were enjoying" they usually "would rather they'd die than go to school with the Niggers" or they said : "I never will get so low as to have my children learnin with nigs."

No matter how strict the rules, and wise and kind the teachers plans, for the comfort, and rights of the black scholar; the feeling of the whites expressed or not—will keep the sensitive African away; though he would willingly bear cold, hunger, and whippings if need be—to "get a little larnin." I know L. agrees with me, for she made no dissent, when I was talking on the subject last eve.

We spent yesterday on a Plantation in Ala. assembling the 75 "hands" and teaching and talking to them, giving them books and slates and showing them how to help themselves and each other. The overseer on the adjoining plantation shot a slave for saying, "Please massa, do not whip my son so—he is a man—and will work better without it." The Overseer escaped punishment because "the nigger gave him sarse."

The day I recd. your last I took my portfolio to write; but ere I dipped my pen “Please Miss could I get a letter wrote? ‘Its seven years I’ve been tryin to write back to my kin in Charleston – but I never could get the fifty cents to pay de [?] folds for a letter. Seven years ago I was sold away and I hain’t seen no kith nor kin since dat day; and I don’t know if any of dem be livin’ But tank de Lord! Hes very kind to me – I tank him dat I liv to see dis day – and de childen all goin to school and folks callin dere wives + dere children dere own – Thank God! Thank God! we never an be thankful enough! I wonders if my children is enjoin dese privileges! – I hopes dey is” – and late at night, my ink, my paper and my time had gone with the twentyseven callers and their business – which was for most of them – of much importance) these came in the time I was not in my school. I miss Army privileges unspeakably.

There are so many I want to send to their kin. Georgia is the state where I suppose more than in any other you find large numbers of persons who are far from any kin.

Schools—most flourishing—Fine weather for all—particularly the poor. Small Pox continues to rage. L & I went to the hospital to see if the patients were properly attended to but surgeon would not admit us. We have ordered a colored person to report any thing out of the way & what is needed—sure that in some way we can meet any demand. We banded the colored people to take care of their hospital—but they are so fearful of small pox the committee will not work "until the scare is ober." I shall have a meeting this week to talk with them on Health Economy ect and will make them [?] take hold.

With best wishes
S.E.C.