The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-05-20

TO his daily toil-whie the haggard look
and restless eye of tho mastor, discloses the
effects of seopless nights aud anxious care.
But when left to tho mercIess passions of
unprinciplod ovorsoors, or driven TO tho
field of hiro, and the market Of trado. his
condition is sadly changed. And then no
who closes the windows of the human soul
against tho light OF science, the glories OF
creation, and u knowledge of its own dosti-
ny, controverts tho plans of hisCreator and
pcrpetra'o wrongs which cannot always 90
unredrcsscd.
Much has been said Of tho inforority Of
the negros mental capacities; and that in
somo respects this may DO true, has not to
my knowledge been conclusivcly dsprovcd.
But two instances worthy of noto have re.
Gently como unGor my observation, illustra.
ting rctentivoness of memory which am
confident is seldom surpassed by persons of
uhdOu6trd mtollect,and active mental organ.
lzation. Ono case was that OF negro re-
porting the Weight of zach of the respective
baskets of cotton picked by sixteen hands.
for tho two weighings of tho day, and do
ducting from tho aggregate, tho weight of
the basket in each instance, and then sum.
ming up in tow moments, by memory
alone, tho nett amount Of cotton picked
during tho day. l was informed by tho
overseer that the same negro had under the
influence OF u small reward In one instance
reported in tho samo way on Saturday night
the gross and mott amounts of o wook's
gathering, which precisely correspondod
with his record. In another case a Miss p,
daughter Of an extensive planter in this
vicinity. informed me that some time ago
she organized a Sabbath school among her
fathers servants, and during her instruc-
tions taught thom, orally. tho questions and
answers of DIR. Capen's Catechism, Of which
many of them learned in a short time, to
gain tho entire mastery, and this, too, by
those unable to read or write. Soon after
this was accomplished, it became necessary
that the field hands should all hc removed
to river plantation, whore they would
spend tho summer season in the cotton
fields. Somo months after their removal.
sho won't to spend somo time at the place
whore they were ut work. As soon as her
arrival was known among them, Com.
mittee of the WHOLE" camo to solicit u rc
nowal of her instructions, which was readily
granted,a at tho earliest convenient time,
u rehearsal of tho lessons learned tho spring
before was commenced, which resulted in
tho unexpected disclosure, that several of
tho number could answer promptly and
correctly, every question contained in the
largo Catechism before alluded to.
Tho chastiscment TO which the negro is
subject. although much may DO justly said,
has undoubtedly been greatly exaggerated.
and when inflicted, is usually incurred by
the careless and indifferent manner in which
his duties are performed; and the wanton
mischievousness which always attends the
early development of the negro urchin, Sc.
cures TO him many "gentlo brushing
which moro moderate and guarded course
might avoid.
For tho manufacture and retail" of n |
genuine article in this limo, he ia without a |
rival, and tho ovcnt of his success is unaues.
toned. Under the impulse of bis esprit of
investigation" there is not flower garden |
but what has suffered from his invasions -
not a hens nest but what has boon re adjust
I'D according TO his notions of architecture,
and its success in the object for which it was
designed not fruit treo but what his
weight has tried the strength Of it's limbs
and some means to delay tho progress Of
his ravages in tho melon-patch, among tho
early apples, and tho new layed eggs"
has long been a topic Of absorbing interest.
II is presumed that lively interest would
bo felt on tho part of many of your readers,
us to the readiness and certainty with which
teachers from the North could iind employ.
ment in this country. regret that my
observations, though extensive in many
respects, embrace but little definite infor.
nation upon this subject. / have mot
cd to DO pleasantly and proftably employed
Tho wages Of gentlemen ranging from fifty
to sixty dollars per month clear of all ex-
penses; aud that Of ladies where thoy sue.
coed in getting employment, being near tho
same amount. The matter of securing a
situation is frequently attended with con.
siderable fornaIity, aud sometimes doter-
mined by trivial considerations entirely for.
eign to tho merits Of the. case. Tho recom-
merdations of some Major" or "Col.." a
term which signifies the possession of large
amounts of land and negrces,) goes farther
in securing most country locations. than the
most thorough scholarship and liberal expo.
rience. A young man having gained rop-
utation in this way, frequently holds the
prestige, while others less fortunate but
more worthy remain unemployed. Scarce,
Iy day passes but what the merits of some
Northern Adventurer are discussed in my
bearing, and fortunate indeed is tho man
who lives near, or is in any way identified
with Slave State, or "hails from Dino
cratic Indiana"
Not long since an old planter protesting
a