674 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 9 



All this is done, in a region with a bleak climate 

 and steril soil, by the energy and intelligence of 

 the people. Each man knows the pulilic good is 

 his individual advantage. The number ot' rail 

 roads and other modes of expeditious intercommu- 

 nication, kails the wliole country into a closely 

 compacted mass, liirough which the productions 

 of commerce and of the press, the comforts of 

 life, and the means of knowledge, are universally 

 diii'used ; while the close intercourse of travel and 

 business makes all men neighbors, and promotes 

 common interest and common sympathy. In a 

 community thus connected, a single flash ot't bought 

 pervades the whole and, almost as rapidly as 

 thought itself can fly. The population becomes 

 as it were, a single set of muscles, animated by 

 one heart, and directed by a common sensorium. 



How different the condition of things in the 

 south ! Here the face of the country wears the 

 aspect of premature old age and decay. No im- 

 provement is seen going on — nothing is done for 

 posterity — no man thinks of anything beyond the 

 present moment. Our lands are yearly tasked to 

 their utmost capacity of production, and when ex- 

 hausted, are abandoned " for the youthful west. 

 Because Nature has been prodigal to us, .we seem 

 to think it unnecessary to do any thing for our- 

 selves. The industry and skill that have conver- 

 ted the inclement and barren hills of New Eng- 

 land into a garden, in the genial climate and fer- 

 tile soil of the souih would create almost a para- 

 dise. Our natural advantages are among the 

 greatest wiih which Providence has blessed man- 

 kind, but we lack the spirit to enjoy and improi^ 

 them. The rich ore is beneath our feet, yei; we 

 dig not for it. The golden fruit hangs from the 

 bough, and we lift not our hands to gather it. 

 The cask of delicious liquor is before our eyes, 

 but we are too lazy even to broach it. In think- 

 ing, in writing, and in talking, we are equal to 

 any people on the face of the earth — but we do 

 nothing but think, write and talk. 



From tlie Soutliern Asriculturist. 



ON THK MAKAGEMEKT OF NEGROES. 



[Concluded from page 495.] 



&c. 



Having laid down some rules for preserving 

 cleanliness among negroes, and attending to their 

 diet, I proceed next, to the regulation of their 

 morals and habits. 



As soon as the negro is convinced that cleanli- 

 ness adds to his comlbrt and ease, at home, he 

 will unconciously practice the same, in discha.ig- 

 ing all his master's work. The slave, who has 

 liis head combed, and his face washed, and his 

 clothes cleaned, will seldom be found neglecting 

 his work in the field, or scratching his head, as is 

 too often the case, when he should be at his task. 

 Niceness and exactness in discharging his duties, 

 will imperceptibly creep into all his habits. 



Order. 



To observe order in all things, is a precept of 

 Solomon; and the planter who will cause his ne- 

 groes to adhere to this wise admonition, will live 

 an easy and agreeable Hie throughout the year. I 

 have seen a certain planter, who always has liis 



negroes at work: they are never idle ; and yet, he 

 is always behind the seasons. Now, this arises 

 from the non-observance of order. If he would 

 only cause his negroes to do every thing as the 

 time, the place, and the circumstance demanded, 

 every thing would be done right, and he would 

 get along well. Preserve order yourself, in all 

 your actions, and your neiiroes will imitate you. 

 For instance, if you ride by a fence tliat has been 

 broken down, and you have a boy with you, make 

 him stop and repair it; if you have no boy, get 

 down, and do it yourself. Let every negro about 

 J on, and on your plantation, be made to observe 

 this. I niake it an offence, severely punishable, 

 for any of my slaves to pass by any thing out of 

 repair, without either stopping to put it to rights, 

 oi- informing the proper person whose business it 

 is to do so. One rail supplied, when the fence 

 demands it, will save a supply of perhaps twenty 

 or thirty, a week afterwards. J have seen ne- 

 groes pass over bridges which had great holes in 

 them, fifty times, and never take the trouble to 

 mend them, when one log of wood could easily 

 have done so. If negroes of mine did the like, 

 be they male or female, if they were old enough 

 to have discretion, I would punish thein for the 

 negligence. Let it not be said that such exactness 

 is severe. Practice makes such things easy to 

 the slaves, and they find it mi.ch better for their 

 owm comfort in the long run. The master should 

 make it his business to show his slaves, that the 

 advancement of his individual interest, is at the 

 same time an advancement of theirs. Once they 

 i'eei this, it will' require but little compulsion to 

 make them act as becomes them. 



Morals. 



The planter should endeavor, as much as pos- 

 sible, to make his negroes adhere to moral rules. 

 I know that to lay down any general code for them 

 is idle. But then, a few particular rules may be 

 strictly attended to. Among these, I particularly 

 enjoin upon my slaves, the observance of their 

 marrage contracts. In no instance do I suffer 

 any of them to violate these ties — except where 

 [ would consider myself justified in doing so. In- 

 dependently of the excellence of such an institu- 

 tion itsel.fj it has the additional advantage of keep- 

 ing j'our negres at home. 



If there be a church in the vicinity of the plant- 

 er's residence, he should oblige all of his negroes 

 to attend it, at least once a day. This has an ex- 

 cellent effect. Most negroes take Sunday as their 

 day of visiting; and it not unli'equently happens, 

 that they do more mischief on that day, by col- 

 leagueing themselves, than on any other. Now, 

 the attendance upon church permits them to meet 

 their relatives and friends there, and, at the same 

 time, keeps them out of all mischief. It is rarely 

 that any one can attend a house of religious wor- 

 ship without gainmgsome wholesome information. 

 And the slave will generally learn, at such places, 

 the re.isons which sanction the master to exact of 

 him his respective duties. 



Upon their return fi"om church, I generally em- 

 ploy them in regaling themselves in different 

 iiealthlid and innocent amasements — such as will 

 tend to keep ihem in good spirits with each other. 

 I know that some persons will object to this, as a 

 desecration of the sabbath; but, for my own part, 



