Moncure Daniel Conway Journal, March 26, 1852.

26. Went over to Fred'g with Pa. Bro. B went to the railroad with me. Riuzer got on at Brook's. Had Dr. Eily & Dr. Smith of Randolph Macon on board. The latter and I had a controversy on slavery in se., wh. he says is perfectly right as a social thing! He made me acknowledge as was easy that there was no conversation pt. on a moral question. Then he wished to know what the principle of slavery was: - clearly the submission of one will to another. I admitted this: then said he Gov't is inconceivable without it! Then said I Gov't is inconceivably wrong. And I stuck to it that there could & should be a social existence without slavery and if Gov't meant Slavery it should be "reformed altogether" - I'd prefer anarchy. He said I better go on and marry Fanny Wright. He says the best Gov't is where the two elements of Slavery and Freedom balance. He said he only wished that he had me in his Senior Class where he lectured on this Subject weekly! - to think of such doctrines in the youth of this Country. I'm glad my star didn't carry me there.

We had much conversation on Norval Wilson also. He'll never forget the gt. controversy they had. He was on his way to the Brook Suit business then.

A tremendous black storm overtook us near W. I went up and after seeing to my trunk - went on to Rockville. I found my horse stone blind. Stopped at bro. Stonestreet's Sat. fixed my Trunks. Stopped at Bro. P's.