John L. Manning papers, 1834-1948

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Manning, John L. (John Lawrence), 1816-1889. John L. Manning papers, 1834-1948

John L. Manning papers, 1834-1948

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780717166

Chiefly letters written during antebellum and Civil War eras by various family members, especially his son, Richard I. Manning, during his Confederate military service in Mississippi and Tennessee. Letter, 9 Feb. 1834 [Princeton, N.J.], to his father Richard I. Manning (Washington D.C.), re death of Mr. Davis, "talent however great is of no avail unaccompanied by moral excellence"; letter, 5 Feb. 1853 (from the Charleston Hotel), to Henry A. Middleton, notifying him of letters and a message from Cleland K. Middleton to be delivered. Two letters, 10 May 1844 and from George M. Cantey (Summerville, S.C.) re a debt owed J.L. Manning; letter of condolence, 8 Nov. 1845, from "Louis" in Edgefield, S.C.; legal document, 20 Feb. 1853 (Charleston, S.C.) issuing pardon and remitting "unfinished term of imprisonment and the fine" imposed on James R. Holland of Kershaw District, S.C. for "harbouring runaway Slaves"; letter, 20 May 1853 (Charleston, S.C.), from J. Burnley Hume, sending a volume of poems "Not for its own intrinsic value; but... in token of my regard for you" and requesting that Manning plant "a live oak... as a remembrance of the pleasure I could have taken in helping you to improve your beautifully situated place"; letter, 8 Nov. 1854, from C. M. Furman, re financial condition of S.C. state bank. Two letters, 15 and 17 Sept. 1859 document the acquisition of African-American slave families by South Carolina governor John L[aurence] Manning (1816-1889). The earlier letter, from Joseph H. Dulles (Philadelphia, Pa.) to Gen. Aug[ustus] M. Smith, reiterates the former's stipulations with regard to the pending sale of slaves "in reply to your enquiry whether I would agree to sell a part of my negroes to Gov. Manning... although I entertain the highest respect for that gentleman and would have the fullest confidence in passing these people into his possession, it is and has been my fixed determination not to sell them with a prospect of their being separated - And while I was willing in May last to assent to your suggestion that Mr. Charles Haskell might unite with you in the purchase, it was with the understanding that the negroes would all be settled on adjacent plantations and reside in the same neighbourhood." The second letter, 17 Sept. 1859, written by Gen. Aug[ustus] M. Smith from New York is addressed to Manning at Manchester plantation (in Clarnedon District, S.C.) "Yesterday Mr. Dulles & myself concluded the Trade for his negroes," Smith wrote. Dulles had said that "he positively refused to sell if they were to be divided. I assured him that their condition would be improved in your hands, also of your Humanity & kind treatment to the Slave, but all to no purpose.... He said, he had religious scruples upon the matter, & felt that he would not be doing his duty to consent to a division, & that nothing would induce him to sell If they were to be divided hereafter." Two letters, 27 Mar. and Aug. 1861, Gloucester County, [Va.,] from C[olin] C[lark], to his daughter, Mrs. John L. Manning, re Virginia's reluctance to secede, political factions within the state, and well-known Unionist sentiment in mountain region to the west: Virginia is "Still clinging to it [the Union] notwithstanding the scorn and contempt," tax situation, possibility of selling his land and slaves, "North Western Virginia... is black republican" and problems of separation from them, and family news. Account book, 27-29 May 1861, with Bank of Charleston; letter, 1 July 1861 (Columbia S.C.), Richard I. Manning to his mother, expressing his thoughts and feelings re service in the Confederate army, "for if I did not do my duty now, the Manning and Hampton blood in my veins would flow from me of its own accord," and reporting that men in his group were "favorites with Wade Hampton"; letter, 22 July 1861 (Columbia, S.C.), Annie F[itzsimons] Hampton, to Mrs. Manning, re reports from the Battle of Manassas; letter, 23 Aug. 1861, "Camp Griffin," from S. Gaillard (transmitting resolutions adopted by the Manning Guards thanking Manning for his kind and acceptable present; letter, 17 Mar. 1863 (Chattanooga, Tenn.), R[ichard] I. M[anning], to his father, requesting him to arrange for the making of a captain's uniform coat with "lace or insignia... for as I am alone with the General now, I require it."; letter, 9 July 1863, from R.I. Manning to his father, re fall of Vicksburg and movement of troops. Post-Reconstruction papers include letter, 29 Jan. 1877 (Manchester P.O., [S.C.?]) to Henry Storm, N.Y., re settlement of political conditions in the South and hope of "favorable action of the Government at Washington" for the State government under [Wade] Hampton);

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