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No more, then, should you relax the proper discipline of your servants.
By discipline we do not intend severity. Severity is not discipline, though there is no good discipline without some severity. The great principle to be infixed is subordination. That infixed, and in general discipline is easy: that is, as easy as it can be with people in their condition.
7. In connection with proper discipline on plantations, the police of the County, for the helping of your efforts, should be strict. The patrol should be real, not nominal, conducted so as not to harass and vex the people, but to maintain them in fear and order. During the last summer, there were twelve or fifteen runaways in the County for months together, committing depredations on plantations, stock, &c. Some were owned in the County, and some were from abroad. Such offenders against the peace and good order of the County, should be permitted to go at large, no longer than a continued pursuit on the part of the citizens could secure them. There ought to be public spirit in the County sufficient, to maintain its police. The evil now adverted to, gains strength by being let alone; and it ought to be enough for us to know, that some of the most serious disturbances which have taken place in slave countries, have originated from this very evil. Masters remained indifferent to its growth, until necessity impelled them to activity. One thing which greatly contributes to the encouragement of insubordination and running away, besides this relaxation of County police, is, the leaving plantations from month to month, and from year to year, without any resident white person. The visit of the owner or manager, during the day, answers some good purpose, but can never take the place of a resident. It is at night that plantations require the presence of white persons. Is there no remedy to this evil? I submit it to the consideration of the Association, and of all our citizens.
The trade, also, which is carried on with the negroes, should be under some supervision. We have reason to rejoice, that the trade in ardent spirit is now generally discontinued, and that the effect has been highly beneficial.
8. I scarcely need suggest the necessity of paying special attention to the comfort of the negroes in their houses, food, clothing, etc.
Unless we attend to the improvement of their physical condition, our efforts to improve their moral condition, will be very nearly abortive; for we shall practically deny what we preach. In order to this, we must moderate our desires for
