was such a tough beast, he did the work and grew fat all the time."

I was still unable to see why the horse did not belong rightfully to Sip, instead of his master. But one thing I did see, more and more plainly: that it was impossible for the most honorable men who had been bred up under the institution of slavery to deal at all times and altogether honorably with those they had all their lives regarded as chattels. Mr. H— was one of the fairest and most sensible men in his speech whom I chanced to meet; and I believe that he was sincere, or at least meant to be sincere. I made inquiries concerning him of his neighbors fifty miles around, for every large planter knows every other, at least by reputation, within a circuit of several counties, and all spoke of him as a just and upright man. No doubt if I had had dealings with him I • should have found him so. He meant to give the freedmen their rights, but he was only beginning dimly to perceive that they had any rights; and when it came to treating a black man with absolute justice, he did not know the meaning of the word.

B

Mr. B—, of Monroe County, was a good sample of the hopeful class.

"We're brushed out, and must begin new. I've lost as much as any other man, but it's foolish to sit down and complain of that. I believe if Southern men will only take courage, and do their best, in five years the country will be more prosperous than ever. When you hear it said the country is ruined, and the niggers won't work, the trouble is in them that make the complaint, and not in the niggers. My niggers say to me, Massa Joe, we ought to work mo'e'n we ever did befo'e; for once, we just worked for our victuals and clothes, and now we 're getting wages besides.' And they'll do it, they are doing it. If you want a freedman to do what he promises, you've only to set him the example, and do by him just what you promise. I've a negro foreman on my plantation that has been with me twenty years; and I can trust him to manage just as far as I can trust myself.

man.

AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

481

Talk about the country being ruined!" Bwent on: "I'm sick of such nonsense. Just look at it. I hire my freedmen by the year; I give four and five dollars a month to women, and seven and eight to men. A woman will do about two thirds as much work ploughing, hoeing, and picking as a For two months now I shall keep my women spinning and making clothes, and my men cutting and hauling wood to the steamboats, for which I get four dollars a cord. That will pay their wages and more. Then what have we got to do the rest of the year? Make a crop of cotton. If we don't make more than a quarter of a crop, it will pay handsomely, at present prices; but it 's my opinion we shall make a good crop. I used to find it profitable to pay a hundred and fifty dollars a year for slaves, with cotton at ten cents a pound; and if I can't make money now, I'm a fool."

A Mobile merchant, overhearing this talk, remarked: "You, are the most hopeful man, Mr. B—, I ever saw. I don't know but what you say is true; but it won't do to talk it very loud, so they 'll hear it on the other side of the water. It's our policy to talk the other way, and keep the prices up."

Bassured me that the majority of the planters in Monroe County were of his way of thinking. They had formed an Agricultural Association, the object of which was "to protect and preserve the colored population, by furnishing them employment and ministering to their wants and neces'sities." The constitution adopted by this association breathes such a different spirit from the serf-codes of Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina, that it is refreshing and encouraging to refer to it. I quote some of its provisions:

"ARTICLE 6th. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to look after the welfare of the freedmen, in their respective beats, to inspect and sanction each and every contract made between the freedmen and their employers, and to see that said freedmen are not deceived or overreached in any contract made with the employer. And when any contract, as aforesaid, shall be fairly and understandingly made, it shall be the law between the parties thereto, and when any difficulty arises between any freedman and his white employer,

...

relative to the construction or performance of any contract, said committeeman may act as arbitrator between the parties, and his decision shall be final, unless one or both of the parties desire an appeal.

"ART. 8th. It shall be the duty of all the officers of this Association, to see that the freedman shall receive from his employer his wages or earnings, and in case such employer refuses to pay promptly such wages and earnings, to aid the freedman by their full power in the collection of the same.

"ART. 9th. It shall also be the duty of this Association, and particularly the officers thereof, to see that the freedman shall comply with his contracts with his employer unless he can show some good or reasonable excuse for the non-performance.

"ART. 13th. It shall be the duty of the said Association to provide a home for the aged and helpless freedmen of the county, and for such others as are unable to make an honest support, and to see that they are provided with the necessaries of life, to devise ways and means for their permanent relief and support.

"ART. 15th. It shall be the duty of this Association, and all the officers thereof, to favor, as much as possible, the education and schooling of the colored children in said county, and to aid in devis-, ing ways and means, and making arrangements for having said children properly taught and their general morals taken care of."

The association taxed itself for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of its constitution. Every planter in Monroe County had joined it. General Swayne, Assistant-Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for Alabama, had approved its action, and appointed its president superintendent of freedmen for that county. "The thing is working admirably,” said B. "The planters are encouraged, and the freedmen are contented and at work."

I said to him: "If all the members of the association are as sincere as yourself, and will perform what they promise; if all the counties in the State will follow the example of Monroe; and if other States will follow the example of Alabama, there will be no longer any trouble about reconstruction: the great problem of the country will be solved."

He said he believed so, and was sure the association would act in good faith. And I heard afterwards that Conecuh County had already followed the example of Monroe.

THE MAKING OF PLOUGHS.

433

CHAPTER LXI.

WILSON'S RAID.

WE had lovely weather, sailing up the Alabama River. The shores were low, and covered with canebrakes, or with growths of water-oak, gum, sycamore, and cotton-wood trees, with here and there dark and shaggy swamps. Then plantations began to appear, each with its gin-house and cotton-press, planter's house, corn-crib, and negro-quarters, on the river's bank.

The sycamores, with their white trunks covered all over with small black spots, and heavily draped with long moss, presented a peculiar appearance. Green tufts of the mistletoe grew upon the leafless tree-tops. Clouds of blackbirds sometimes covered the shore, casting a shadow as they flew. The second day, the low shores disappeared, replaced by pleasantly wooded bluffs and elevated plantations.

Nearly all the planters I met had been down to Mobile to purchase their supplies for the season. Freight went ashore at every landing. Recent rains had made the steep clayey banks as slippery as if they had been greased; and it was quite exciting to see the deck-hands carry up the freight,many a poor fellow getting a perilous fall. The wood for the steamboat was sometimes shot from the summit of the bluff down a long wooden spout which dropped it at the landing.

Seeing some heavy bars of iron going ashore at one place, I asked an old gentleman to what use they were put on the plantation.

"They are to make ploughs of, sir."

"Does every plantation make its own ploughs?"

"Do we make our own ploughs?" he repeated, regarding

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