Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-13

1
Rev. George C. Smith This article deals
with Mime. Kimble's book, journal of a
| Resident of Georgia Plantation in
| 1889" published in 1863, and presents 1t
| as giving the conditions as seen by Nine.
Kimble. carrying the impression that this
condition, as pictured by her, was type
! of what pertained to the rice plantation
and rice planters of Georgia.
| am the son of one OF the rice planters
living next door neighbor to this Butler
properly, which Nine. Kimble draws her
picture from, and knew them intimately.
The picture by Mime. Kimble is very, very
much overdrawn, and unjust. Nine. Kim
BILE, an English woman, extremely oppos-
ed to the system of slavery, as well she
might be- of a nervous eccentric nature,
erratic in her temperament, visits for a
few months her husbands plantation and
writes book on the Georgia rice planta-
ton, presenting a picture which Nine
Smith assumes is correct (having been
published). L
| FAMILIAR WITH CONDITIONS.
saw that life Mr. Smith did not; and
in all fairness to the gentleman who own
ed and managed these cstaes, think 1t Is
we'll to show the other side of the pic
ture We have had recently very strong
demonstration in our public matters, that
It is not always safe to assume that con-
ditions are as they at first glance appear
to be- That before reaching an accurate
conclusion, It is always well to examine
both sides, then give your honest opinion.
| People easily believe what they want TO
believe. Nine Kimble is not an excep-
ton. Buffers Island. as Mr.. Smith says,
was settled by Major Butler. Major But
Ter and my grandfather, John Copper,
were next door neighbors, and very close
friends. Major Butler handled his slaves
and property with great Intelligence firm
ness and humanity. His slaves were de-
voted to him and his memory. When
Nine. Kimble visited this plantation In
, 1898 she, as the wife of Major Butler s
son and mistress Of the plantation, was
, met with love and adulation. She says
| SO in her book Why II these people had
been treated cruelty, would they have
been the reception of the master and mis-
tress? Hardly. 1t is true that at that
time even, as slaves there had been devot-
ed with marked distinction among the ne
groes on those plantations; there was
pronounced standard of difference be-
tween their intelligence and morals Nine.
| Kinble shows It: and while she dwells ad
literatum upon the picture of the most
depraved, she touches lightly that OF the
most intelligent. Again see what NC
Leigh, daughter of Mrs. Kimble says IN
her book, Ten Years on a Georgia Plan
tation," written in 1888, of life on the
same plantation after the emancipation
a very different picture. II Nine. Kim
ble's picture OF cruelty, neglect and III
| treatment is correct, then 1t passes all
understanding that these same people, at
ter being emancipated, should flock TO
the same Butler, and same Buffers Is
land, to rehabilitate the property under
the guidance Of the same old master.
They did II. and It cost Mr. Butler his
life through malarial diseases contracted
on the place while making that effort.
| do not think It fair to present to the
public such a picture as drawn by Nine.
Kiunble as the true condition of the slave
on their plantation, and then assume that
It pertains to ALL Nor is 1t just to the
! memory of refined, cultivated, humane
class OF planters to ALLOW this article to
remain unanswered even II the conclusion
were reached upon assumption only
ATTITUDE OF THE PLANTERS.
II is true that the planters were firm
and maintained good discipline, but with
500 negroes on one plantation, and FOR
fcrty years no cri;ne committed beyond
Ietty theft of one negro from another,
the record compares favornbly with that
made In our police court OF this DAY;
hut comparisons ara odtoUs.
I rlanted these pisces. Aram1 Butler s
n island, Hopeton and Broughton, for 70
years after, the close of the civil var,
| and but for the removal f the taT1 on
; rice would have continued With great
PLEASURE and proft. WHO did rave as
laborers? The old slaves born on those
plantations and their descendants; say
without any hesitation. after working ne
Rroes In different parts Of the state, that
the best element Of that body of negroes
on those rice plantations were as hon
est, intelligent and loyal as any that
have ever dealt with. OF course, there
was an inferior element among them.
! very ignorant and immoral, but 1t is not
fair to the negro people to class them all
on the lowest level. owe this justice
to my loyal black supporters In the
Slaves of fifteen able foremen / had in
charge Of these plantations. If there are
any true men these foremen 1 had, viz.
James B. Teavir, Seize Pasby and Jim
sadler, all born before emancipation and
raised on these rice plantations, have
failed to find them. -
- OTHER SIDE OF PICTURE.
so much for what have seen, Let US
look at the picture drawn by Queen Yes
tunas maid of honor In the book, ~.
g., Canada and Cuba. 1856" She visited
my father, living on the Hoheton plan
tation next door to Buffers island On
page 21S she says: "Darien, Ga. For
} tunately, a four-oared canoe like that of
Mr. Hamilton Coupers had come down
from his plantation on the Altamaha
upon some business. DR.. Turner insist
. ed on being taken up with him We met
Mr.. Copper also by accident and after
very pleasant row of about Ave miles
he brought US to hts English-like house
: (as respects the interior) an interesting
home-rny hrst Introduction to planta-
! ton life. A happy attached negro pop
! ulation surrounds this above. never
saw servants in any old English family
, more comfortable or more devoted It IL
quite a relief to see anything so patri-
archial after the apparently uncomfort-
! able relations of master and servant in
/ the northern states. we left the river
about mile and a quarter. CMiss Miray,
: page 2is) from the house and came ur
= narrow canal between rice plantation
, (fleidG) almost to tho door, we prepared
/ two largo nat boats laden with rice and
! Mr.. Copper took me 10 see the threshins
machine which WINS ut work in barn;
tho women putting IN the rice just as we
! dc our grain, They were more comfort
ably drnped than our peasantry and look
ed happier, otherwise (except the com
3 piexion), The scene was much OF the
same as at threshins barn IN England.
: Miss Murray, page szl,' Mr., Copper
) has no white servants, Their family con-
|, sists of six sons and two daughters,
, should not Hike 10 ihhabit a lonely part
of ireland or even Scotland. surrounded