THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
lull performance of his '^duties,'' as laid down 
by the writer of that article. My experience 
is, that the first object of an overseer, when he 
comes on a plantation, is to convince the own- 
er that he is a very big man, who knows all 
about planting and managing negroes, and has 
been accustomed and is entitled to have his 
own way: and that the owner, on the contrar}^, 
as he wears broadcloth, reads books, and per- 
haps dabbles in politics, must necessarily be 
entirely ignorant of planting and of his own in- 
terest, and would do well to let him alone while 
he manages his affairs and makes a fortune for 
liim. His next object generally is to make it 
apparent that every thing is out ol order or de- 
ficient. He soon discovers that your land is 
poor or worn — your mules broken down — your 
gears lost — your wagons, fences, buildings, all 
require repairing — an entirely new set of plan- 
tation tools must be provided for his use and on 
his plan— you are uncommonly backward in 
your work, and he doubts whether your corn 
and bacon can be made to hold out. He en- 
deavors to impress it upon you that he sets out 
under the most unfavorable auspices, and if 
your crop is a failure, it is not his fault. On 
the contrary, if it succeeds, the utmost credit 
will be due to his skilful management. The 
next thing he does, is to flog every hand up- 
on the place on the most trivial pretext, to let 
them know that he is master. And if you have 
any favorites that he can discover, he flogs 
them first and the severest. All this imperti- 
nence and brutality the poor planter must put up 
with the best way he can, for he knows that it he 
discharges his man for these things, he will 
have to discharge his successor for the same, 
and ultimately yield, or do without an overseer 
at all. He consoles himself with the idea, that 
as the year advances, he will draw the reins a 
little and have something of his own way. In 
this, he is often disappointed, and finally gives 
up in despair, or parts with his overseer after 
it is too late to repair the injury he has suffer- 
ed. I have found, however, that with most 
overseers, by good treatment and forbearance — 
by winking at small faults— conceding every 
thing you can, and refusing to listen to com- 
plaints, unless very aggravated, one may get 
along after a fashion for the year or perhaps 
two. But the idea of having any of your plans 
exactly carried out, is almost hopeless. And 
whatever improvements you desire to effect, 
must be introduced with the most skilful di- 
plomacy, or forced in by downright bullying. 
Your new plow is rejected with scorn— your 
imported breed of hogs is ridiculed without 
mercy — your crop is done for if worked in the 
least diflferent from what your monitor has al- 
ways found the best way. You must submit to 
all this with a good grace ; and congratulate 
yourself, if you can, by any half-way compro- 
mise, get a tolerable experiment of any of your 
projects. And as soon as you have declined a 
re-engagement, you will find every thing at 
sixes and sevens. Plows, wagons, carts, all 
break down, and cannot, somehow, be repaired 
— fodder is plenty and covers the bottom of your 
stables. The corn will certainly last till Christ- 
mas, and that is all he cares for. If your meat 
is poor or badly cured, it is of no consequence, 
he will not have to eat it. The fences will do 
for his time : and why should he push on work 
and get in advance for another crop, the credit 
of which will enure to his successor. His in- 
tent is at an end as soon as he knows he is to 
leave, in every thing except to stretch the num- 
ber of your cotton bags by packing light, that 
he may tell how many he made for you with 
such a start as he had. 
“An Overseer” has drawn a picture of over- 
seers as they should be. 1 have given you one ol 
them as I have found them. And my experience 
has been among the best of the class, and not 
a few ol them. 
What is to be done? Isay with “Franklin,’’ 
whose articles I have seen re-published in the 
Cultivator, the planters must adopt new rules 
as to overseers. They must take their business 
entirely into their own hands, and require as the 
cardinal qualification of an overseer, that lie 
shall obey their orders and carry out their plans 
promptly, cheerfully, accurately, to the letter 
and in the spirit. The interest of the overseer 
is temporary, limited, and often adverse to the 
owner, as his reputation, he thinks, depends on 
the amount of the crop for the given year. The 
intent of the owner is fixed, continued and uni- 
versal. Every thing belongs to him, and he 
wants the use of them hereafter as well as now. 
He must look years ahead. He must sacri- 
fice present gains for advantages hereafter. His 
plans must embrace the eontingencies of a dis- 
tant future, and must not be thwarted by the nar- 
row views and contracted aims of a temporary 
agent. If overseers will follow the advice and 
exhortation of “Ari Overseer,” it will be great- 
ly to their advantage as well as to the advantage 
of the planters. But as it is not in human na- 
ture for a man to take the same interest for 
another, in all respects, that he will for himself, 
the planter will find it worth the trouble to watch 
over his own affairs under any circumstances. 
Taking overseers as we find them, he who does 
not, these times and with the prospects before 
us, should at least keep his eye upon the sheriff. 
S. B. 
For the Southetn Cultivator. 
AGPJCULTURAL SOCIETY IN HOUSTON CO. 
July 4th, 1844. 
A portion of the planters of Houston county 
met this day at Perry, for the purpose of form- 
ing an Agricultural Society. 
On motion of Gen. B. H. Rutherford : Dr. Chas. 
West was called to the Chair, and Col. J. D. 
Havis requested to act as Secretary. It was 
then 
Resolved, That the Chairman appoint a com- 
mittee of five, to draft a suitable constitution 
and bye-laws for the government ot the Society. 
Dr. D. B. Hamilton, S. Felden, J. C. West, 
T. M. Furlow and Dr. A. T. Calhoun were ap- 
pointed that Committee, 
The meeting then adjourned to the first Tues- 
day in August to receive the Report of the Com- 
mittee. CHARLES WEST, Ch’n. 
J. D. Havis, Sec’ry. 
August 6th, 1844. 
The Meeting convened this day, according 
to adjournment, Maj. James M. Kelly in the 
Chair; J. D. Havis, Secretary. 
The Chairman ot the Committee appointed 
at the last meeting for drafting a Constitution, 
made the Report of said Committee, which be- 
ing adopted, the Society went into the election 
of officers, which resulted in the choice of the 
following: Gen. B. H. Rutherford, President; 
Vice Presidents, Judge D. Gunn, James Mc- 
Kinney, Capt. George R. Clayton, Dr. Charles 
West, Dr. C. T. Woodson, Maj. A. Smith, J. 
C. West, Dr. Bradwell, Maj. Belvin, Rev. A. 
T. Holmes, Mr. Cliett, T. M. Furlow, Esq., 
Maj. J. M. Kelly and Jesse D. Havis; Record- 
ing Secretary, Dr. David B. Hamilton; Cor- 
responding Secretarj^, Charles Rice, Esq.; 
Treasurer, Dr. A. Calhoun. 
A subject for discussion on the first Tuesday 
in October (our first regular meeting) being 
chosen, the Society adjourned. 
JAMES M. KELLY, Ch’n. 
Jesse D. Havis, Sec’ry. 
SELECTIONS, EXTRACTS, &c. 
AN ADDRESS. 
Delivered before the State Agricultural /Society, at 
their Meeting at Greenville, on Wednesday, the 11th 
of /September, 1844, by John Belton O’Neall, and 
published in conformity to their Resolution. 
On looking over this audience, I am tempted 
to ask each and every one, what is your occu- 
pation? Nine out of ten would answer, it is 
that of tilling the soil. Of the remaining one- 
tenth, almost every one, in a greater or less 
degree, has something to do with it. Of South 
Carolina, therefore, it may be truly said, her 
business and life is Agriculture. Yet in no 
part of the world, has less been done to give her 
the entire benefits of that business in which she 
is engaged. Until very lately, she has looked 
on the good around her, and has been con- 
tent to waste, instead of using it. The deserted 
and desolate fields, and the groaning forests, as 
they fall before the axe, tell us too truly, that 
we have scarcely ceased to be the pioneers of 
Agriculture. 
Still something has been done to recall the peo- 
ple to their true interests. This very Society, 
meeting annually for the last four or five years 
in Columbia, and embodying a great deal of 
practical, as w'ell as theoretical knowledge, has 
done much. So, too, the District Societies, or- 
ganized throughout the State, and annually col- 
lecting the Farmers together, and inducing them 
to think and write about their respective sys- 
tems of culture, have created an interest and 
rivalry in farming, which has led to great and 
valuable results. This very meeting, intended 
to call out the Farmers of the mountain Dis- 
trict, and to give to them the benefits of the 
State Agricultural Society, and to receive from 
them, in relUxm, that stock of information which 
they possess in relation to their local agricul- 
ture, speaks for us in a voice not to be misun- 
derstood, that South Carolina is at last thorough- 
ly aroused to her dearest interests. Can I add 
anything to the interest of this occasion? If I 
can, duty as well as inclination will prompt me 
to do so ; but I fear that a Lawyer and a Judge, 
although long deeply interested in Agriculture, 
will not be able to set before you, the matters 
which should interest you, in that light which 
a more experienced, practical Farmer could 
shed. Still', as you have desired it, I will try; 
if 1 succeed, all which I wish is obtained; if I 
fail, the attempt has satisfied the claims which 
you have upon me, and may open the way to 
some other, better qualified, and more success- 
ful than I may be. 
On an occasion like the present, as a part of 
the Address with which I am charged, it may 
be well to consider first, briefly, two of the many 
popular objections urged to Agricultural Socie- 
ties. It is supposed by some, that theory and 
practice are at war with each other; in other 
words, book-farming is one thing, and real, 
practical farming is another. But there is here a 
great and abiding mistake, founded in, and grow- 
