Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-12-01
For the American
For the American.
Disposition Of Freedmen the
Result Of Training.


Disposition Of Freedmen the
Result Of Training.
FIFTH PAPER.
The negro is accused by his former mas
ter Of natural tendency to idlcness.
Like his other vices, this too can be &C
counted for in his early discipline and
mode Of living. Slave labor long ceased
to pay in Virginia, but the rapid increase
Of slaves and the high price they CON-
manded, made the business Of raising
slaves very profitable. Virginia planters
have for number Of years found that the
proceeds Of their farms scarcely paid ex'
penscs, generally leaving them few
hundreds or thousands Of dollars in debt
each year. The food raised was usually
Just what was required for home use
while the tobacco was applied to the pur-
chase of clothing and Injuries. Seldom
did it happen that a planter died without
leaving debt Of several thousand dol
lars to be paid from his slaves, the pro-
ducts Of his farm having failed to pay ex-
pcnses. Why this was so we cannot con-
slider in this paper, but the fact being
conceded among them long ago. they
ceased to have any aim further than to
live in the same old way. and feed their
own working property.
L. Sk,a INSTALL nj
the labor required Of the slaves being
greater, it was less. They were not re
auired to labor with that consistency and
diligence that was required in the states
where cotton, sugar and rice was pro-
duced, and labor was made to pay. They
were allowed more generous supply OF
food in Virginia. had more time given
them for leisure, and the discipline was
sustained more by the threat of being
sold South, than by the rod which was
seldom resorted to. In many counties OF
this state did the slaves usually have
Saturday afternoon to Themselves. Each
family occupying it's own house, raised
it's own pig. as private property gen
orally larger than the masters They
usually had their half dozen hens and as
large piece of groun d as they wished to
cultivate for the purpose Of raising gar
den vegetables.
A mlder form of slavery existed no.
where in the South than in Virginia. Men
in moderate circumstances were surround
I'd by numerous wants who had very
little labor 80 perform. Mr.. A. has John
to tend his livery, drive out with the fami-
" whenever they wish to ride and take
them to-church each Sunday. Bill has
the express charge of the saddle horse
and attends upon Mr.. AS person when at
home.
Others have their particular charge
Mrs. ~ has her servant who is tho mistrcs.
of the house and holds each servant &C
countable for the performance of their
duties. Nancy lives in style almost
equal with Mrs. A. She dresses in her
silks and often attends Mrs. A.. in the
carriage. Mary is required to master the
art Of cookery. and devotcs all her time
to this business. Susan is the laundry
woman for the family while IIetty is the
chambernaid, and keeps the house il:
order generally. Old Betty milks the
cows and makes the butter and cheese
Ia this way two or three of these persons
are only required to perform the amount
Of labor one domestic does in the North.
Neither are the field hands required ,e
make up the work properly belonging tt
those above enumerated. They work a.
leisurly rs they choose. Saturday yor
may see one Of them astride Dobbin, witt
score of chickens. The master allow'
him to go to market and trade for tn,
whole plantation. He brings home lacts
gloves. and articles of jewelry such u.
catch the eye. and suit the fancy Of all
This was slavery. Those hard to be gov
erned. impudent. lazy, or accused o
misdemeanor are sold away, Kidding thu
plantation of further trouble. and givin,
u salutary Lesson to all. No one doe
more than he is required to do. and nj
one is required to DO half mans la
Dor.
Want urges no one TO uncommon &C
tivety. The slave has no inducement Il
labor for hi. children, knowing their want
will be provided for as his own has been
Emulation is unknown, none can posses
ambition.
Many masters pridcd themselves in be
ing indulscnt and kind never havin!
whipped a slave. Under such tuition
aversion to hard labor is the result. !.
people urged to labor by no necessity
will never be remarkable for their enter
prise or energy.
have therefore often held up to then
one great privilege Of freedom, ITO work a
hard as You please, the reward being cor
respoudingly great" When he learn
the truth of this principle and sees hi
children attending school and preparin!
for Independent. earnest, thoughtful life
ra.her than for the Southern market, h
may be urged to activity aud industry.
THOMAS N.
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MINUTES OF THE HANCOCK BAPrls,