New-York tribune., 1867-07-29
LABOR At THE SOUTH.

PLANTATION GOVERNMENTAL NEGRO COURT
Prom Our Special Correspondent
WILMINGTON, n. c., July II. 1867.
On my way here, from New York, | fell in
with gentleman from Florida, who gave Inc some de-
tails Of his with colored aborers which think
may interest your readers. His name is william H.
Knapp, formerly Of Newark n. j. His plantation is in
Marion County, Florida, Micanopy, Is miles
from Gainesville, on the Florida Railroad. In
January, 1906, he went there. in company with his
brother-In-law, Mr Jones, and leased cotton panta
tion OF 1900 acres The partners employ 40 field
hands, beside mechanics and house servants. At first
they paid " per month to women and $40 TO men
After six months they voluntarily raised the wages to
$40 and s2 Notwithstanding the protests Of their neigh
bors who compelled to advance also. The present
year they are paying from S2 TO $5 and the planters
about them have tried In vain to get their laborers
by onerng even higher prices They furnish the ration
which was required, viz for each person per week one
peck Of meal four pounds Of meat one pint Of srup and
unmarried men. for whom they hire cook. and there
feed all the children If the ratOns insufficient they
increase tho supply IL IA understood that all are 10 have
plenty to eat For the protection the products Of their
garden and to teach the lesson OF ownership we
and furnish seed for such vegetables as the
lahorers may choose to raise for their own s,s nse;
They wore disposed to make the wages OF the neld
hands alike, for both and women, since the task is
the same though some indulgence Is shown the eeDer
women, but it was found likely TO produce ll-ieelng
days task hOeng Il Of cotton, and there s an
extra allowance for all over work Only one hand has
been discharged for nzneSs one woman, the mother OF
four sets OF children has hoed hrc Of cotton per day.
or one days task for every husband she has had
The brothers purchase goods in NewIork, ana supply
their hands at uniform profit of per cent instead OF
the eXtrayagant profits demanded by the merchants IN
the vicinity Boots sold by others for 6 they furnish at
g. aud with other goods. They sell only to their own
hands, but these traffic freely, turning many penny by
the sale at good profit OF articles needed by the hands
on adjoining plantations whe still save by the purchase
Their reputation Is such that no difficulty Is found In
getting all needed help. One old preacher ~ years
of ayr, and offered his services for his board de-
posting his boarding some 500; with his employers Tor
safe keeping He attends TO the family garden. MI.
Knapp holds regular Sunday meetings, when he reads
selections from the Bible, Old Sol he preacher offers up
prayer m Join In singing some OF their rousng spirit
uals and he gives short and simple talk upon practical
religion. Negroes from the adjoining plantations IRE
qusnty attend ON one occasion he spoke from he text
Wine a mocker.' giving a strong plea for temper
aDee; few nights after he offered some whisky as med
eine 70 AN old man who had been exposed 70 nu
wss thoroughly chilled. but was met with hrm 40
vas particularly Interested in Mr. Knapps account OF
rs mods OF governing she plantation, ana
ts especially to ,ateR a,ss%p' M my IyprOG%Ge pen
He founa very early that something must be done to
chesk the lng and pferng propensties OF ,ne hahds
Corporal punishment he would not nnict and TO deduct
froi their wages gave great dissatisfaction he hly
devised p!a which has worked admirably II Is a ys
tenn OF scifgoyernment he organized planlatlon ,
court having jurisdiction OF all offences committed by
authority One OF the oldest negroes on tue panhton
and tie abest and most trustworthy one was made Judge
or cmeustice with two associate Judges Another was
made Sheriff, one or two constabes, crer &c Messrs
Knapp aud Jones acting ~ attorneys Tor he
prompting but old shadrack quickly conprehended the
dignity and responsibility OF his position ana now rhe
gentlcmen style their chiefJustce-a title chosen to
tickle the ear and also 20 bear investigation as To real
significance Is Old she'd" as he Is called the wisest
aud best man well most skilful mechanic IN the
pacea man, by the way who Is eager 10 learn nut TOO
proud to TO school with the rest His employers hui
NOR hiH pride and give him private lessons IN the spell
ingbook! The Two Associate Dlgnied Preslders are
Tiger JEFF and Old Abram." The other honors are
distributed as tho eNigencies admit the jury comprising
ncsscs one o the early trials described TO me IN
detail and would serve as a subject for an artist.
dciaI bench the carpenters workbench whereon sat
Shed, serious caln and dgnined ankcd on one side by
fierce on the other by jolly Old Abrm full Of fat and
merrment yet striving TO maintain proper degree OF
me floor qTOaS % tho 5s rneIs. s c are ssSaT and
leaving their seats and II with the Court 10 fix
the penalty have forgotten the ofense; 1t may have
been stealing chicken. The dignifcd presders dehber
nte Old Jch. who has slight mpediment speaks hrst
90" Pp-pad paddle him, d-n him W-w-We IL snow these
The occasion seems 20 demand little prompting. and
Mr Knapp suggests 20 the honorable Court that such
penalty + Illegal and opposed Ia his convictions OF night
Abram then offers his opinion He votes for fne of $40
frnse lie asks II 81 fine would not be regarded as too
heavy for him 10 pay for tring oense, and suggests
te n sg tbe 70 moIp @ for himself DID Shed takes the cue
and votes for fine o. one dollar 10 whch ms 1ign'
agree and this penalty H. imposed aud there II
no appeal The fund thus accumulated IS not appropra
ted by the employers but Is used hrst Tor tne payment %
stolen propcrty not recovered and next for purposes OF
common use and Improvement. The judgments oi the
honored and It's vengeance feared Mt Knapp
has pledged himself 10 be responsible for all articles sio
len from other plantations by any OF his aorers ana ne
finds the Plantation Court valuable agency IN ihdem
uifyng him from loss for his unusual offer.
Mr. Knapp finds difficulties trials ana dseo9ragenen,S
enOughwho does nOt-but he has made steady progress
and already regards the question Of labor and govern
ment as no longer experiment As the colored people
become acquainted With individual rights they learn 10
respect them All want to buy land aud urge Mr knapp
To purchase and sell to them In small lots he mas iul
faith m such cooperation will result In supplying these
hard working people with homes Of their own ana pur
poses 10 buy and clear land and plant orange orchards