Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-29
(For the Free Press
CONTRABAND CAPACITY.
70 the Editors offhe Free Press ;

To the Editors offhe Free Press;
see that q correspondent Of n. I. E'e''Hg
Post, in giving some account Of the Eslaves al
Port Royal, and noticing their knowledge OF SUD-
jects pertaining to the war, says that ne asked
one how he got his information, as be couid not
read, and the negro replied: ayes, weSe can't
read but wese can count Mass'r; wese mas 10
count in pickin cotton" This reminded me OF
some facts which interested me very much, while
residing In a cotton State some few years ago,
which / think may interest your readers at this
time, not only by explaining the statements of
the correspondent of the Evening Post, but slso
as showing the capacity of the negro when his
mind is stimulated by exercise. If he has been
supposed deficient in any thing, it is in the direc-
ton of logical or rigid calculation, and mathemat-
ical processes. lived in the family Of cotton
planter who worked from fifteen to twenty hands'
He employed no overseer. During the planting
season he gave his personal attention to the field
work Of bis slaves but during the rest OF the sea-
son contented himself with inspecting their work
once a week, or the like, and carefully question
ing them at night as to their work curing the
day. This he commonly did through one Of the
older and more trustworthy slaves, whose name
was Allan. Cotton picking lasts some three
months, the hands going over and over the field
once week, and oftener if possible, 80 as to
gather the contents Of the freshly opened balls
before il is beached by the sun, or soiled by rain
The sooner it is picked after it is fairly opened
the more and the better it is. The picking sea
son is the one when the negroes are urged TO theil
greatest capacity for work. To stimulate them
and also to mark the lazy ones for correction, it il
customary to weigh each negro's work daily. II
the better part of the season, good days worl
averages for grown hand about 200 lbs Of seed
cotton. The weighing and the record of it is G
course done by the overseer, when there is one -
My host entrusted the weighing TO Allan, wh'
was required to report at night the amount pick
ed by each man. Allan just weighed with tn
common steelyards, each ones basket-and tn
picker must use the same basket through tn
season. This weight Of the basket, Allan recorde
in his mtmory. At nco1 all came mp TO tn
"gin house" to empty their baskets, and ALA
weighed each ones basketball, subtracted tn
wei ght of the basket, and set the amount Of cot
| ton the against negros nsme-all in his memory
| for he could not make figure, read it
| made with pen. This work was repeated 70
4 the afternoons picking, and the gums added to
] gether for each picking. When the negroes cam
up at dark, the first thing was to attend to thei
! own little household cares and get their suppers
Then Allan called at the door of his master some
! times at the windew, and reported the amount Q
l cotton picked by each hand during the day. A
| my pedsgogueship made it usual for me to be a
| my table in the evening, with pen, ink and pa
| per before ne, my host used to ask ne to tax,
down Allan's numbers. This did regularly 70
two seasons. And though 1 subjected Allan t.
the severest tests could think of to DO ASSURED
of his accuracy, Inepy found single occasion L
doubt it. Allan's pleasant voice at the windos
near my table, often repeated, cake the cotto,
now, if you please, Mass'r," is one Of tho mos
distinct remembrances of my Southern home
neighbor, and patron Of my school, told nj
tina: he had a mill, aud the best workman IL
could get to run Il, was one Of his negroes. Thi
slave was required while running the mill, &
send of loads Of lumber to customers-usuall,
many loads in day. To DC this, he must u
different kinds Of lumber on each load-measur,
the length and breadth and thickness Of each
kind, and take the number Of pieces Of each meas
ure This be would lay up in his menory-Ioad
ioad-and connect each load with the man.
-. 'om it sent. And at night Le would
Tito.
lame to Va
~ customers accordingly.
No. 80 -, a. -. lat he thus depend
= "a b. .ol5 his crstomers, % keep tie
d or the negro, and requested them -
lccount with care-but he never in sing
TANGO found his slave in fault.
You will agree with me in thinking THE does !
rot show that the negro is incapable OF taking
,are of himself if he is allowed to pra,tice in the
business :. i. J..