Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-03
For the Standard.
, ,tuoSoR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE"
HuoN, ON WALNUT BAYoU,
Madison Parish, La, May 18th, 1857.

I.
ton county, North Carolina, who, with that kind
ness and hospitality for which gentlemen OF the
"OId North :" State are peculiarly distinguished,
insisted upou nv taking q seat in his buggy and
accompanying him to his home about fourteen miles
distant. Having known Mr.. Cooper for a number
of Years in North Carolina, previously to his remov-
Al 10 Louisiana and having learned from planters
throughout this entire section OF the Union that he
eniovs the reputation of being the most skful and
successful manager of plantations in the Southern
country, availed myself Of this excellent opportu
nifty Of witnessing for myself the results Of his
superior management and at the same time of rest.
ing from the long and incessant atgues Of travelling
The reports Of his talent and success in manage
ment fattering as indeed they were fall far short
of the reality and as it will doubtless be advan-
taxeous to your planting subscribers as well as
gratifying to the numerous friends of Mr.. Cooper in
Northampton and the adjacent counties to have q
'birds eye view" Of what your correspondent has
seen, l have concluded to give you veritable
account of the result of my visit to this magnificent
farm. 1t would be we'll, perhaps, to premise that
the estate on which l am now sojournlng ana re-
creating. and which is situated both sides OF the
Walnut Bayou, was left by the late Nathaniel L;
Williams, formerly of Southampton, Virginia, ana
who died in May, ls49-just eight years ago. The
plantation was then, as it has continued to remain
ever since, under the direction and management OF
Mr. Cooper.
We set out from the South side of the Mississippi
river opposite Vicksburg about o'clock on Satur-
dav afternoon, and arrived at the farm at halpast
seven in the evening, having taken cursory glance
at the various plantations along the road, which
runs almost parallel with the father OF waters
along the entire route. The exercise, together With
= glass of good old Southampton, which had seen
the frost Of eight winters, gave US an excellent
appetite for the enjoyment of the supper which
followed; and after RECALLING my olfactores with the
fumes of Hyco which always carry in my port
manteau, (Mr. Cooper neither smokes nor chewsO
and after indulging in conversation on the tunes
and events of auld lang syne, we retired about ten
o'clock to bed, and in a few moments Somnus had
folded about us the soft drapery OF repose and had
Transported us in ancys dreams to the loved scenes
of our "fatherland" About the period when 'chan-
ticeer winds his last horn for day" was aroused
from my slumber by the awakening tones OF the
huge plantation bell, weighing $40 2ounds, wnicn
from its ethereal height calls both man and beast
from their downy couches. 1t was Sabbath morn
ing and on such days it behooves the hands of the
field and the heads of families to see that their
"households are in order" that avation IS perform
ed the hair of every head nicely combed the person
neatly Clad and everything we'll adjusted prepare
tory to repairing at sunrise to the quarters OF the
manager for his personal inspection. just as
Phoebus mounted his fiery chariot, one tap OF the
bell brought the entire family-the sick, the chill
dren and their nurses alone excepted-to the spa
cious yard of the mansion house, where they form
ed in rank and file with military precision, and on
the approach of the manager with roll in hand, the
men and women simultaneously, the former by TAX
ing off their hats and bowling politely the latter
with low curtsies, and all with pleasing smiles on
their faces, sauted him gracefully and atfectonate-
". One glance along the extended line suffced to
prove to me that they were happy throng. Their
fine fat, sleek faces, clearly washed, their hair
smoothly combed, and their apparel all neat and
tidy, expressed in language more forcible than
words that they were we'll cared for and humanely
treated whilst their cheerful joyous countenances
and agile FORMS told abundanty of that inner pleas
ure that happiness of the soul which none but the
contented can ever experience 1t was indeed
lovely spectacle, and one which could not fail to
convince even the most philanthropic heart of abo-
tionism that the slaves of the South the happi
lest laboring population the face of the globe.
The manager proceeded to call the roll and each
one present answered to his or her name. Every
absentee there we're but few absen:) was carefully
noted down and enquiries made of the cause Of
absence, in order that if sick, he or she might be
minstered to promptly and efficiently. On these
occasions too, Mr.. Cooper not unfrequently gives
them plain practical, familiar lectures their
al conduct, and explains to them their duty to him
and to themselves. Knowing them to be reasona-
bic beings he treats them as such, and convinces
them by psecept and by example that he is their
friend and that he takes no pleasure in the infc-
ton of any kind of punishment; that he always
he does from principle of duty, and only when
necessary in order to ensure order and obedience.
l have never seen manager highly esteemed or
80 much beloved. The consequence is that he has
more work done and with less punishment than l
ever before knew or heard of so large and popu-
lous farm. Everything is done in order-system
is the predominant fashion of the place. and every
one is controlled by method. Every operative is
well trained in the rules and regulations of the farm.
All know we'll their duty, and arc made to perform
it. Each has his own part assigned him to act, and
he performs it we'll The faithful and ndustri-
GUS are not required to make up the deficiencies of
the mean and ndolent. The roll called and these
preminaries adjusted, Mr. Cooper ordered three of
his men to weigh out their weeks allowance of
meat he meanwhile holding the list of names in his
hand, which has affixed to each family and servant
the number Of pounds to which they are respective
y entitled and the weighers calling out to him each
draft as it was taken from the scales. Every labor
er has five pounds of bacon each week. and families
with children in proportion. About five hundred
pounds of bacon were weighed out this morning,
and each took off his pile quietly and in order. In
addition they have bread without stint and vegeta-
Dies IN abundance. A good cook is furnished for
the laborers who does nothing but serve up their
meals.
Il must here say something of the bacon which
saw and tasted and which is far sweeer and better
than any that have met with since left Carolina.
When Mr.. Cooper first come to this country no
planters pretended to put up meat, because they
thought it could not be cured in this climate He
differed with them in opinion, and Immediately
erected meat-house with basement several feet
IN depth of BRICK in which he sailed down his pork
Inc experiment was entirely, triumphantly success
iul: Sweeter, irmer, better bacon you never saw
in North Carolina or Virginia. Since that time sew
eral OF the most enlightened planters in this section,
following bis example, have cured their own meat,
whilst others pay their whole attention to cotton
groes. Herein is to be found one principle of econ
omy by which Mr.. G. exces all the planters and
managers in this country. He raises all the neces.
sares that can possibly be produced on this soil
and in this climate for his plantation, and buys
nothing but what can not be raised None can
save more than about ten bales of cotton to the