Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-06
farnrfrs department.
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
OVerSserS.

0Verssers.
Mr.. EDITOR: As this class of persons are
indispensable to the Southern planter, | have
been surprised that so little has been written
upon the subject. Many persons, it seems,
consider it not worth thought, much less
4 discussion, as men can be picked up every
day, and made to answer the purpose. But
asreform in this particular, is becoming every
day more necessary, and planters Of sound
Judgment are becoming more convinced Of
the fact.
An Overseer of the right stamp, should
possess good sound judgment, energy, kind
ness, and frmness that caunot be shaken.
He should feel fully the responsibility that he
has taken upon himself, aud not abuse the
confidence that his employer has placed in
him. The Overseer should exercise an un-
usual degree of vigilance, to the minutest
branches OF every thing that affects the in.
forests of the employer, and endeavor to
have every thing in as neat and trim man.
ner as the nature of the case will admit of
When the employer is not uponthe planta.
ton, it should be the duty Of the Overseer to
carry out strictly the directions of the owner,
and not conclude that because he has been
upon the plantation one, or perhaps two or
three years, that he is more capable to man.
age than the owner, who has been cultiya-
ting it all his life, An Overseer should pos.
scss sufficient qualifications to attend to any
and every thing about a plantation. He
should attend strictly to the negroes when
they are sick, and see that they have the
proper attention. There are many good
Overseers who always try to make large
crops of corn and cotton, but never bestow
any attention whatever upon the servants
when they are sick. They do not consider
that the man who has entrusted his interest
with them may loose thousands of dollars BY
their neglect in this particular.
That the African is happy, indolept, and
careless race is evident, from the oldest to
the youngest of them; and to keep them in
proper order, it is quite necessary, some.
times, to inaict punishment This should be
done with firmness and moderation; and to
effect good purpose, it should be accompa-
MED by a full explanation from the Overseer
to the slave, why it has been necessary for
him to inAict such punishment. Let this be
done coolly and deliberately, exactly as you
would give physic to effect cure of some
disease in the system, and in nine cases out
Of ten, the negro will feel that nothing but
Justice has been awarded him; and will en-
deayor to shun it in future.
have known some Overseers land excel
lent business men too) who, when they would
find it necessary to infict punishment would
defer it for several days, and then take up
the negro and give such correction, without
any explanation whatever, leaving the negro
entirely to conjecture for which fault, or for
what he was corrected. Such course, in
my opinion, has quite the contrary effect from
that which is intended; and one who follows
this unreasonable course, though he may
have every other qualification for a planter,
can never govern negroes as they should be,
which consider the most essential point to
every manager. -
Such, Mr.. EDITOR, is few ofmy thoughts
on Overseers and their duties, and now fora
few thoughts of what is the duty of employ
.ers, In the first place, they should select
men of intelligence, of sober and industrious
habits, and men who show a disposition to
please their employers, and moi themselves
entirely whose habits are frugal and eco
nomical, and whose fidelity is not to be
doubted, and such men as they would not
feel ashamed to be seen conversing with in
any company. When such man is secured,
the employer should endeavor to make him
feel. that entire confidence is reposed in him,
and his wages should be as ample as posi-
bic. which would make the Overseer feel
pround Of his position. 1t is an acknowl.
edged fact that this class Of agents are poorer
maid than that of any other, and why is this !.
It's because employers will allow strikers to
supplaut good OversOers.