The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-21
MASTER AND SLAVE.
From the NortoM Argus.

master and slave, were presented by to read
ers two years ago. We have been requested by
several influential gentlemen residing in this Dis
trct and who are large shareholders, to reproduce
them in the hope Of bringing about at least some
of the necessary reforms.
While defending our peculiar institution from
the assaults of fanatics at the North in dan
ger of allowing evils to grow up among ourselves
from mere neglect, which may in the end, be
destructive than any efforts of our professed
enemies.
There are none among us who propose to act
with view to the ultimate emancipation of the
negro race. All experience has shown that the
black and white races cannot live together upon
the SOIL on terms of equality. The black
man must be the slave of the white man, whatever
laws may establish between them He must either
be controlled and provided for by master, who
has property in his labor, or be oppressed and
abused under the name of freedom, by the unprn-
cipled and selfish, who have no interest in his well
fare. The more the slave is dependent upon the
master the more closely the interests Of the two
are linked together-the better it is for both.
The slave should be made to feel that his welfare
is involved in his masters property, and that it is
his true interest to serve him honestly and faith
fully. The most faithful, at the time the
happiest servants, are those who feel that they
have property in all that belongs to their master
y, d
certain theirs to be kept and watched over with
unwavering faithfuness. We have among US
many interesting examples of this kind, but we
fear that the number is decreasing. The faithful
old servants who clung with such unwavering de-
vot!on to the fortunes of the families to which
they belonged, rejoicing in their prosperity, suf-
fering willingly in their reverses, proud Of their
good qualities and ashamed of their vices,
passing away from among us, and their places are
supplied with sullen, moody eye-servants, ever
anxious to complete their task that their time may
be spent in amusement or in procuring the means of
vicious indulgence The servant comes to think his
own interests are different from his masters. His
mind rebels against salutary control. He claims a
right to certain degree of freedom. He is, in
fact partly emancipated, and that account feels
his bondage the more. We are in the habit Of
attribung this change in the character of servants
to the efforts of abolitionists to make them dscon
tented with their condition; but it would be well
to enquire whether there is no other causes nearer
home, which will account for this deterioration.
Some of these causes we shall endeavor to point
out And one of these is, the hiring out of
negroes. The hirelins loses his interest in his
masters welfare, for he sees him but seldom, and
few kind Offices are performed between them.
He has little Interest in him for whom he labors,
it may be only for single year. He ha3 no
tive for labor but to please his employer for the
time being, or to escape from the punishment
which his Incidence and unf;ithfulness might
bring upon him. He soon learns the measure of
his employers forbearance and conducts his labor
accordingly Hirelings are proverbially the worst
servants, and especially those who in the habit
of changing their places from year to year Yet
there seems to be necessity for hiring out slaves.
They may be the property OF minors, and it may
be better even for the slaves to be hired out for
few years, than to be sold out of the family in
in which they have been raised. master may
for the time have more laborers than he can well
employ and it is much better that they should be
hired out than maintained in idlencss.
The custom of hiring out by the single year
should be abandoned. The longer q servant re
mains with his employer, the more useful he be-
comes for the deeper interest he takes in his af-
fairs If the servant felt that he was settled for
term of years. or at least that change was not to
be made at the end of the year, he would be more
anxious to please his employer He would not be
looking toward to the end of the year, under every
little yexation, or imagined hard treatment, and
resolving to be of tile value possible till the
connexion could be dissolved. On the other hand
the employer would take more pains in the di:cp
line and instruction of the servant, did he feel
surcd of his Sc vices for longer time. Under the
present system he feels as the term of service
draws near to close, that the results of discipline
will not pay for the trouble of it. Everything
goes at loose ends, and the slave forms habits
which render him less and less valuable every
year.
Another bad practice connected with this is the
allowing of slaves to choose for themselves their
places of service. Negroes are like children, fond
of change. They know not where they are well
treated, and are likely to choose homes where
they think there will be the least restraint. The
liberty of choice oten, keeps them in state
of discomfort through the whole year, for they
very soon make up their m;rds that at the close Of
it they will seek another home. The employer, if
he has obtained capable servant, and is desirous
of retaining him, RENTS discipline and grants in
dulgencies inducement for the servant to re-
main with him-and the slave is ruined.
Ia the competition for good and capable servants
it is not uncommon for employers to agree to Fay
them a stipulated sum, or to allow certain por-
tion of their time to be spent as they please, thus
paying master and slave in order to secure the SER
vices of the latter The consequence is, that the
slave rapidly deteriorates. He is allowed to feel
t at he has property in his own labor, and he
reasons, that if part is accorded to him, he has
right to the whole, and he renders his services
grudgingly. Indulgence renders him insubordin-
ate and vicious, perhaps drunkard, and the mas
ter and employer are both losers.
Masters and those who have charge of slaves to
be hired out have an important duty to perform.
1t is to see their slaves are well fed and clothed,
not over-worked, not exposed to bad weather, and
properly cared for in sickness. But they cannot
this by listening to all the complaints Of the
slaves, and allowing them to choose their own