New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-17
The Management of Slaves.

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The Management of Slaves.
NEGRO HOUSES.
Among the first objects that occupy the at |
ention of the planter, in the settlement of |
rev place, is the selection of a proper location |
or his buildings This should always be done |
With great care and with an especial view to |
,ealth. Good water is indispensable, and |
should be obtained at8amost any cost, as |
without it, there can be no permanent health !
II should be obtained from wells or springs, if |
possible; but if that cannot be done, then pro-
per cisterns should be constructed, and placed |
to receive the rain water from the buildings, by
which means a constant supply of healthy
water may be kept on hand.
The houses should be placed, if possible,
under the shades of the native forest; but
where that cannot be done, the china, or null
berry, or some quick growth should be mme-
diately transplanted, SO as to cover the build
ings in some degree, from the rays ST the sum-
mer's sun. The buildings should be placed
about two feet above the ground, SO that the air
can pass freely under them, and also be well
ventilated with doors and windows. They
should be sufficiently large, say about sixteen
by twenty feet, and but one family should be
put in house; there is nothing more injurious
to health or demoralzing in feeling, than
crowdiDg them together. They had much bet
ter sleep in the open air than in crowded tight
houses. Each house or family should be fur
nished with suitable bedding and blankets, for
while q proper outfit costs few dollars in the
beginning, they save twice as much in the end
they add greatly to the comfort and health of
the slave, and enable him much better to per-
form the labor required. m
FEEDING OF SLAVES.
In former years the writer tried many ways
and expedients to economic in the provision of
slaves by using more of the vegetable and cheap
articles Of diet, and less of the more costly and
substantial. But time and experience have
fully proved the error of stinted policy; and
for many years the following uniform mode has
been adopted, with much success and satisfac-
ton, both to the owner and to the slave.
The allowance now given der week to each
hand-men, women, boys and girls, that are old
enough to go in the field to works five pounds
of good clean bacon, and one quart Of molasses,
with as much good bread as they require and
in the fall or sickly season Of the year, or on
sickly places, the addition of one pint of streng
coffee, sweetened with sugar, every morning be-
fore going to work. These provisions are given
out on some designated night of each week and
for families it is put together; but to single
hands it is given to each separately, and they
then unite in squads or messes, and have their
meat cooked for them, by a woman who is de-
tailed for that purpose, keep it TO themselves,
as they please. Their bread is baked daily in
loaves, by woman who is kept for that duty.
Each house or family should have garden at
tached for raising their own vegetables. ~
This mode of allowancing relieves the owner
from much trouble in daily supervising their
provisions, and is much more satisfactory to the
slave. Under this system Of treatment q word
of complaint in relation to their living is seldom
heard. Some planters, however, differ on this
subject, and prefer the plan Of cooking and eat
| ing at one common table, and it is possible.
with a small number of hands, and where the
owner lie willing to devote good deal of atten-
tion to that matter, that he may save a small
amount But it will not be as satisfactory, and
he will probably not gain enough to pay for the
trouble. Children, of course, must be fed and
attended to as their wants require; they are
not likely to be neglected, as they pay good
interest upon the amount of care and expense
bestowed upon them.
NEGRO CLOTHING. ...=.
| The proper and usual quantity of clothes for
| plantation hands, is two suits of cotton for
spring aud summer and two suits of wooden fol
| winter; four pair of shoes and three hats, which
| with such articles of dress as the negro merits
| and the owner chooses to give, make up tht
years allowance. Neatness in dress is impor
| tant to the health, comfort and pride of negro
| all of which should be encouraged by the owner
/ They should be induced to think we'll of them
I
can instill into them, the better they will be
have, and the more serviceable they will be
so they should always be aided and encouraged
in dressing, and their own peculiar fancies in
4 dulged to q reasonable extent
/ HOURS OF WORK.
/ In the winter time, and in the sickly season O
| the year, all hands should take breakfast befor
leaving their houses. This they can do and ge
l to work by sunrise, and stop no more until l.
o'clock; then rest one hour for dinner, theI
work until night. In the spring and summe
they should go to work at light, and stop at
o'clock for breakfast, then work until IL o'clocl
/ and stop two hours for dinner, and work fron
O'Clock until night. All hands stop on Satur
day at II O'clock, and take the afternoon TO
cleaning up their houses and clothes, so as
make neat appearance on Sunday morning.
TASK .woKK. 55=zz
The usual custom of planters, is to work with
out tasks during the cultivation of their crop
but in gathering cotton tasks are common, an
experience has proved thar whenever work
of that kind or character that it is much bette
to do so. If the overseer has Judgment, he wi
get more work, and the negro will be better sal
is6ed he will generally make an effort and gai
time to devote to his own jobs or pleasures.
ii NEGRO CROPS 4e,
It was at one period, much the custom of plar
ters to give to each hand a small piece of Ian
to cultivate on their own account, If they chos
, to do so; but this system has not been found
result we'll 1t gives an excuse for trading, GIL
encourages q traffic on their own account M
presents a temptation and opportunity, durir
the process Of gathering, for an unscrupulo,
fellow to mix little of his masters produce vii
his own 1t is much better to give each han
whose conduct has been such as to merit it, o
E equivalent in money at the end of the year;
is much less trouble and more advantage to bo
q parties.
DISCIPLINE. @=.p
In regard to the general management, or di
d cipline on plantations or public works, it ls
great consequence to have perfect system al
} regularity, and strict adherence to the rul
that may be adopted for the government Of Il
place Each hand should know his duty and
: required to perform it; but, as before intim
. ted, the owner has nothing to gain by oppres
IS ing or over driving, but something to lose; 1
3 he cannot, by such means, extort more wor
/ But still, if it becomes necessary to punish t
i, negro for not doing his duty, or the violation
| rules, it-does not make him revengeful as
N would an Indian or white man, but it rath
= tends to win his attachment and promote
a happiness and we'll being. Slaves have no
4 spect or affection for master who indulges thu
2 over much, or who, from fear Or false humans
ID fails to assume that degree of authority nee
q sary to promote industry and enforce good
!. der. At the same time, proper and suita
N indulgences and privileges should be gran