Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-05-24

the work Of the day ended. 1t will be
asked what was the necessity Of all
this, when superintended every thing
that was done myself? Ianswer it gave
the driver habit Of regularity, aud pre-
pared him for a proper discharge OF
his duties, should be sick. The more
the driver is kept aloof from the negroes,
the better. The truth is, he cannot main
tain too much pride in his conduct towards
them. Once let them believe that they
are his equals, and all contro! is lost
I have said so much about the driver,
that have little room to speak ofthe ne-
grees. Thcirproper management cons'!-
tutes the chiefsuccess ofthe planter. II
he has not proper control oithcm, he had
much better give up planting; for as sure
as he continues they vii! ruin linn.
Having laid down rules Cor the regulation
Of YOUR plantation, the first consideration
is the study Of tho character Of YOUR nc
grocs. This will not take you long to do;
in one month the full character Of every
slave you supcrintend might Le learnt.
For the breach of every rule, certainty Of
punishment is every thing. If negro is
permitted to 20 once unpunished for a
fault, he will at any time afterwards do the
same and risk being hogged. have al
wavs discovered that where the overseer
is positire, that the negroes arc better
disciplined. more mildly treated. and con-
sequentiy more happy; once, however,
negro has been punished, the fault should
be overlooked, and his spirits should notbe
broken down BY continually reminding him
of his past misconduct. Not observing
this rule, has very often ruined some oftbe
very best negroes. have frequently met
with negroes, whom the whip would ruin,
with whom little flattery could do every
thing. will state aninstance Oft the kind.
Ten years ago, bought at auction in
Charleston stubborn, i'll looking fellow;
sold as runaway. Upon examination, |
found that he had the marks Of having
been repeatedly whipped. asked the
fellow the reason Of this, he said it was be-
cause he could not do his work. was
convinced that Ben, (for that was his
name) had not been properly managed. |
accordingly purchased him at a reduced
price took him home, and put him to
work by the side Of some Of my best
workers. Ipointed out what I would re-
quire of him; and in Aat,ering way .ohser-
we'd to the other fellows, that | was now
going TO give them push. "Now," said
|, "Ben, | will expect you 10 do your
best keep close to those fellows, and if
you follow them up close, you may feel
proud Of yoursel.", He seemed pleased
at my remark, said he would, and COM
menccd as ifhc intended to do his best.
left Ben to himself, and in few hours af-
ter returned to where he was working he
was getting on exceedingly we'll, for which
l complinented him. 1t was in this man
ner that urged him on throug ghout his
days wolk. That evening he finished
his task, did it well, and went home much
pleased with himself. This was the first
step towards the reformation of Ben. BY
following up my treatment, / so entirley
reclaimed him in few months; that from
being runaway and rogue, | made him
one of, my primest and trustiest negroes.
Order should be strictly maintained
among negroes. BY this, mean order
in their occupations and duties. Once or
twice in the month, ! made it my business
to visit each negro house; | examined |
every thing therein saw that the negroes
permitted no dirt or filth TO be collected
about them, and as invariably punished
them where found they had done so, as
if they had omitted to do their days work.
This plan of supervising your negro hou-
scs, works wonderful effects upon your
plantation. 1t keeps your negroes clean
iy and healthy and prevents the conceal
ment of all kind of roguery. If every
oversee, would follow this plan, l am con-
vinced that there would be little use for
patrol laws.
not only attended to the negroes in
the cleanliness Of their houses, but also,
enioined the strictest observance as to the |
cleanliness of their dress. lfnegroes are
left to themselves, they will, general speak
inc, pay little attention to their dress.
have seen them Oh some plantations al
most naked from suffering their clothes
to remain unmended. This can easily
be rcmedied. Make it rule to oblige
every negro, to have his clothes mendcd
as soon as you discover them broken; and
if your force be large, have some old per-
son to serve as" general mender" to the
plantation, and you will never have to in
suit the eye with a set dragged negroes. |
Next, TO making your negroes attend to
the orderly arrangement oftheir houses,
and dress. Won should obliae them to