The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-07-04
Management Of Negroes.
Fr0nn a. |. (Tfrennda Renubll

| Is most important SUBJECT ifRFe 10 none IN |
which the Southern Planter feels, or should feel,
so deep an interest To manage them with an |
eve to their health. their comfort and happiness
is The duty of every owner. Happily for both |
master and servants the master 'sinterest and the
| Negro's comfort are most intimately blended
so much so, that no master, whotakes con1pree
hensive and enlightened view of his interest.
will fail to be humane and kind, and ever atten.
tive to his Negroes comfort and wants. Every
master should so act towards bis Negroes, that
they would have the most unlimited confidence
| in him. They should have confidence in his
Judgment his justice, and his humanity. He
should act towards them at al! times from the
dictates Of an enlightened Judgment. and not
| from passion. Let the Negro know that his
master is humane, kind, firm and just; prompt
10 enforce obedience to all the laws on his places
aud thstthey are enforced not from passion, but
/ principle, and be will have happy, cheerful,
| artive and contented sci of laborers, and with
| but little trouble to himself. In making laws
/ for them, lei them be az few and simple as is
consistent with The healthy and proper manage
! ment of the farm. Too many petty regulations
! are vexations TO both master and servant, Make
| them know that all rules aud laws must be obey
ed; be vigiant to protect, and prompt to enforce,
obedience Make no laws, give no ORDERS but
what you know are right. and tnen never permit
a violation of them-let them never call them
in question; let them only feel and know that it
| has TO be done. for the simple reason that the
master has ordered il.
will now give my manner of managing my
/ Negroes and business ] do not by any means
/ recommend it as the best: / follow it as that
which gives me least trouble, and q belieVe) the
| Negroes most Observation-Disclosures il is the
best course can pursue for their health and
comfort and happiness and my own interest. do
not pretend to say. There may be, and no doubt
i is, abetter way; let him, who knows it and prac.
Ucesit write it down. NY first object is to have
1segcry Negro well clothed, well housed, with
plenty OF wood and plenty to eat. i give them
one thick. heavy, wooleH suit; the women iaroe
wooen cape to cover their shoulders entirely,
and this lined; TIVE summer suits, three shirts;
! the men summer and winter hat: the women
a handkerchief and two pair OF shoes the men
only one pair oFshoes. give the best blankets
Fl can pet in New Orleans, and give these as I
| see they need them. My clothing of every kind
/ / buy there, and order always The best that the
market affords. build my Negro houses OF
hewed logs, with rock or brick cbimneys, some
OF them shingle roof, floor tight, the cracks point
ed with lime--the wood is hauled to them. OF
/ meat. give pound a piece a day when they
are eating The bony parts, four pounds. a week
when giving the joints. and three and a halt
| pounds week wheh weighing the rniddlings, as
much bread as they want; alt the milk except
/ the little used.at my table for Only two. Of us,
/ frequently give moiasses, and epdeaYor to raise
| an abundance Of vegetables, all of which they
have without deducting any meat or bread. L
I-plsnt largely of peas, Irish potatoes and yams.
| simbins, cabbage and turnips; every house is
| furnished with cooking implements, and each
family or Negro cooks his supply, (which is civ
en- to him weekly to suit his own taste. do
not say this is the best, but il gives me less ou-
Bile and they prefer it. got in ntfis habit by moi
being with nv Negroes when first began to
plant-when | moved home. proposed 10
change it if they wished-Eot one was willing.
La negro shows when he is web fed as readily
as horse, and mine look slick-and greasy, and
they work lively aHd are cheerful and happy
we appear TO be doing well this way, and it is
a good rule to let well alone.
We rise early--every Negro is expected 10 be
at his work as soon as he can see 10 do it. A
horn is blown BY the head man | never 90 TO
their house to start them out: look for them
only where their work is, and that al The right
time. When at work every one must move,
hri>kly. it they do not, | have often made them
sit down; prefer perfect rest;to sluggish gait.
Ny blowers are required 10 keep constantly
knowing at brisk gait-lhe mules must be kept
brisk by attention on their part; WHEN kept in
good order, free from sores, they do not want a
whips and never permit them 10 have one
Feach plowman must keep his mule and toulssin-
| proper place aud order for work, and all hands
are responsible 10 keep their tools in place,
tEba. tl,s, o..n ~, hrsf
TO lead the hoes, and then The ether hands are
Lelassed 10 keep ND with fhen--ihe work gees
on together, aud it is.much easier to see that il
Iisapraperly done.s
( The .Negrpes are never required TO labor in
the rain. but positively directed not--we do no
night work at any time, ,exeep! in cotton: picking
and then all We do is to put the cotton in that is
dry on the scaffoh. endeayor 10 give them
4 rest every Saturday evening; but they know |
/ wiifonlp give it when they labor diligently and
/ activefy-tlley must keep my work well lup or
they 90 not play, and they know it; and they
know TOO. that /, with great pleasure, give 1t to
them when the situation OF the work will per.
nit. II is very great stimulus to labor. and
really believe more work viii be done by hands,
Itreated in this way than by those who know that
to tllem. work as they may. they never stop.
Ifaothng but night puts stop TO their labors.
and hardly thar. Iireqnenlg give them dram:
if the weather is wet and bad particularly
Some NAV coudemnthis;I j do not say it does
/ gnod. hui will say. the Negroes think so, and
would do tiff it was only for the pleasure it
lgpes them. formerly gave them crops. bat
Of late years pay them money at The end Of
the year in preference. The amount given iasi
4 depends upon thecrop and the price; the amount
to each one, .npon his got behasior his aetivi-
1ty, obedience and efficiency during the year. |
have an annual settlement with them;I furnish
any extra clothing that any OF themsmay want
during the yearsthey are charged with il, and
lat pay day, as they call IT, il is brought up
spajnst them;ii makes them much more care
lfnlwjththeir csoihes, for they are very proud to
90 off with pocket full Of silver, andd always
pay them in silser.s 1t is a dayof settlement
with one for all offences during the year; now
I. bring up judgment their niisdeeds, and they
feel the effect, the only wav fhat many persons
/ can feeI-the;f purse stouohed This payday,
and Saturday holidays give me more influence
over my negroes than any thing else; and am
sufe,it saves me the pain and trouble Of iniiic-
ting much coFpoTea punishment.
The Negro who has discharged all of his du-
Eiies throughout The year most faithfully isput in