Management of Slaves [pp. 713-719]

MANAGEMENT OF SLAVES.
hbis slave in the course of time, the picture never fails to remind
one of the patriarchal days when Abraham had slaves born in
]itis house or purchased with his money. Under such a state of
things the master knows the man; the man, his master. The
master feels confident that the man is attached to him, and
will consult his interest. The man feels confident that the
master will only require what is right of him, and will abundantly provide for all his wants and that of his family. When
he or his children are sick, he knows that he will have his
master's physician to minister to him. When he is naked, he
knows he will be clothed; and when he is old, he knows that
his wants will all be supplied to him in his small cottage; during winter he will be warmed by his master's fire, and clothed
from his master's flock; and at all times he knows that he will
be fed from his master's crib and meat house. The man looks
even beyond death, and knows that when he shall have died
he will be decently buried, and his children after him provided
for. When sickness and affliction happens to such a master,
how anxious the solicitude of his slaves for his recovery? And
when at last death overtakes the good master, the tears, the
sobs, and the cries of his faithful slaves point to him rather as
their father than their master. This is no fancy sketch-it is
a picture, the original of which we have often admired-and
we venture to say, that no more beautiful sight has ever been
viewed in the countries of voluntary servitude, however great
the boast of its superiority as a system of labor over slavery.
Your committee are aware that there are those who doubt ihe
probability of a strong attachment between the master and his
slave. But they are satisfied that this position is wrong, and
from their experience they know that there are numerous cases
in the southern States where the picture drawn above is a
faithful sketch of actual life.
With respect to the best mode of governing our slaves, your
committee think they cannot bring the subject to the view of
the planters in a more proper shape, than by recommending
'to them the following or similar rules in the government of
their slaves. Of course, these rules are very general, and
may be extended probably with advantage. But your committee, after mature reflection, are of opinion that they embrace
all the general principles upon which they propose to base the
government of our slaves.
Rule 1st. Never punish a negro when in a passion. No one
is capable of properly regulating the punishment for an offence
when angry.
,2d. Never require of a negro what is unreasonable. But
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