Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-06-18
For the Advertiser.
THE DUTIES OF an 0FERSERR.
MOUNTAINS CREEK; June 5th, lS5

sion for the purpose Of going to Kansas to
Sght the Internal Aboltionists, if necessary,
and if not to try something that is more
profitable than overseeing. have concluded
to give my views to my Brother Overseers
upon the duties of All Overseer, which they
can take for what they are worth.
1t is here supposed that the overseer is
not Immediately under bis employers eye,
but is eft for days or weeks. perhaps months,
to the exercise Of his own judgment in the
management of the plantation. 10 him
wo would say bear in mind, that you have
engaged for stated sum Of money, to de-
yo.e yeur time and energies for an entire
year to one object, to carry out the orders
Of your employer strictly and cheerlully,
and to the best Of your ability, and in all
things to study bis interests. This requires
something more than your mere presence
upon the plantation. and that at such times
as suits your own pleasure and conveniency.
On entering upon your duties inform yourself
thouroughly Of the condition Of the Pla!nta.
ton. negroes, stock. implements. &c. Learn
the views Of your employer as to the gen.
e,sl course of management he wishes pur.
sued, and make up your mind 10 carry out
those views fully as far ss in your power
Al
If any objections occur to you, state them
distinctly thats they may be yielded to or
overcome. Endeayour to take the same
interest in everything upon the place as if it
were your own-indeed, the responsibility
Is greater than if it were all your own, hsv'
ing been entrusted to you by another. Un.
less you feel thu, it is impossible that you
can do your employer justice.
The health Of the negroes under your
charge is an important matter. Much of
the usual sickness among them is the result
of carelessness andmismagagement. Over.
worked or badly cooked food, and night
rambles are all fruitful causes Of disease.
Well cooked food. including a plenty Of
vegetables, should be supplied to them at
regular hours; that the sick be cheered and
encouraged, and some extra comforts allow
ed them, and the convslescent not exposed {;
that pregnent women be particular cared for
and in great measure exempted from labor
and certainly from exposure and undue ex'
er!ion for some time before confinement /;
and that while nursing they be kept as near
the nursery as possible, but at no time al
lowed to Buckle their children when over
heated; that the infant be nursed three times
during the day in addition to the morning
and evening, until eight months old when
twice day may suffice; that no whiskey
be allowed upon the place at any time or
under any circumstances; but that they have
whilst heated and at work plenty good cool
water; that care be taken to prevent the
bands from carrying theil baskets full oil
cotton on their heads-a most injurious prac.
tice-aud, in short. by using such means for
their comfort as every judicious humane man
viii readily think Of you will fud the amount
Of sickness greatly diminished.
Next to the negroes the stock on the place
will require your constant attention. 1t is
a part OF the duty in which Oversesrs are
generally most careless. The horse and
mule stock are first in Importance unless
these are kept in good order it is impossible
that the work can 60 OIL smoothly or your
crop be properly tended. Put your stables
and LOT in good order and keep them under
lock; aud have them Uttered aud cleaned
out at proper intervals; 10 atte;:d to sick or
named animals, to see that the gears are
always hung in their proper place, kept in
good order, and SO on. Ii is an easy matter
to keep horses or mules fat with full and
open corncrib and abundance of fodder, but
that -Overseer shows his good management
who can keep his teams fat at the leaAt ex'
pense Of corn and fodder. Hogs are generally
sadly mismanaged. Too many are kept
and kept badly. One good brood sow for
every FIVE hands on place is amply suffi.
eient-indeed, more pork will be cured from
these than from greater number. The
implements and tools require good deal Of
looking after. By keeping memorandum
Of The distribution Of any set of tools, they
will be much more likely to be forth coming
at the end of each month. Axes, hoes and
other small tools. of which every hand has
bis own, should have bis number marked
upon it with steel punch. The strict en-.
foreement Of one single rule will keep every
thing strait-"havs place for everything,
and see that ever Ytling is in its place"
Of the provision crops there is most com.
monty enough made upon most plantations
for their own supply. Rarely however is it
saved without great and inexeussble waste
and fed out without still greater. And this,
10 their lasting shame be it said. is too often
the case to q dissrsceful extent when an
Overseer feels satisfied that he will not re-.
main another year upon the place. His
oonduct should be the very opposite Of this.