The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING SLAVERY.
[1823]. |
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING SLAVERY.[45] [1823].
Yes.
Employs an overseer for that number of slaves with
few exceptions—
Not uncommonly the land, sometimes the slaves, very
rarely both togetherThe common law as in England governs the relation between
land & debts; Slaves are often sold under execution for
debt; the proportion to the whole, cannot be great within a
year, and varies of course, with the amount of debts, and the
urgency of creditors.Yes.
Instances are rare where the Tobacco planters do
not raise their own provisions.The proper comparison not between the culture of
Tobo. & that of Sugar and Cotton, but between each of these
cultures & that of provisions. The Tobo. planter finds it
cheaper to make them a part of his crop than to buy them.
The Cotton & Sugar planters to buy them, where this is the
case, than to raise them. The term cheaper embraces the
comparative facility & certainty, of procuring the supplies.Generally best cloathed, when from the household
manufactures, which are increasing.Slaves seldom employed in regular task work.
They prefer it only when rewarded with the surplus time
gained by their industry.Not the practice to substitute an allowance of time
for the allowance of provisions.Very many & increasing with the progressive subdivisions
of property; the proportion cannot be stated.The fewer the slaves & the fewer the holders
of slaves, the greater the indulgence & familiarity. In districts
comprising large masses of slaves; there is no difference
in their condition whether held in small or large
numbers, beyond the difference in the dispositions of the
owners, and the greater strictness of attention where the
number is greater.There is no general system of religious instruction.
There are few spots where religious worship is not within
reach, and to which they do not resort. Many are regular
members of Congregations chiefly Baptist; and some Preachers
also, tho' rarely able to read.Not common; but the instances are increasing.
The accommodation not unfrequent where the plantations
are very distant. The slaves prefer wives on a different
plantation; as affording occasions & pretexts for going
abroad, and exempting them on holidays from a share of the
little calls to which those at home are liable.The remarkable increase of slaves, as shewn by the
Census, results from the comparative defect of moral and
prudential restraint on the Sexual connexion; and from the
absence at the same time, of that counteracting licentiousness
of intercourse, of which the worst examples are to be
traced where the African trade as in the W. Indies keeps the
number of females, less than of the malesThe annual expense of food & raiment in rearing a
child, may be stated at about 8, 9, or 10 dollars; and the age at
which it begins to be gainful to its owner, about 9 or 10 years.The practice here does not furnish data for a comparison
of cheapness, between these two modes of cultivation.They are sometimes hired for field labour in time of
harvest, and on other particular occasions.The examples are too few to have established any
such relative prices.See the Census.
Rather increases.
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More closely with the slaves, and more likely to side
with them in a case of insurrectionGenerally idle and depraved; appearing to retain the
bad qualities of the slaves with whom they continue to associate,
without acquiring any of the good ones of the whites,
from whom [they] continue separated by prejudices agst. their
colour & other peculiarities.There are occasional instances in the present legal
condition of leaving the StateNone
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J. M. presents his respects to Dr. Morse, with the annexed
answers to the Queries accompanying his letter of the 14th
inst: so far as they were applicable to this State. The answers
c. not conveniently be extended as much as might perhaps
be desired. Their brevity and inadequacy will be an apology
for requesting, that if any use be made of them, it may be
done without a reference to the source furnishing them.
Montpr., Mar. 28,1823.
Jedediah Morse wrote to Madison from New Haven March 14,
1823, sending a printed list of questions "from a respectable Correspondent
in Liverpool, deeply engaged in the Abolition of the Slave
Trade, and the Amelioration of the condition of Slaves," and asking
Madison to furnish brief answers. The questions follow:
Do the planters generally live on their own estates?
Does a planter with ten or fifteen slaves employ an overlooker,
or does he overlook his slaves himself?Obtain estimates of the culture of Sugar and Cotton, to show
what difference it makes where the planter resides on his estate, or
where he employs attorneys, overlookers, &c.Is it a common or general practice to mortgage slave estates?
Are sales of slave estates very frequent under execution for
debt, and what proportion of the whole may be thus sold annually?Does the Planter possess the power of selling the different
branches of a family separate?When the prices of produce, Cotton, Sugar, &c., are high, do
the Planters purchase, instead of raising, their corn and other provisions?When the prices of produce are low, do they then raise their
own corn and other provisions?Do the negroes fare better when the Corn, &c., is raised upon
their master's estate, or when he buys it?Do the tobacco planters in America ever buy their own Corn
or other food, or do they always raise it ?If they always, or mostly, raise it, can any other reason be
given for the difference of the system pursued by them and that
pursued by the Sugar and Cotton planters than that the cultivation
of tobacco is less profitable than that of Cotton or Sugar?Do any of the Planters manufacture the packages for their
produce, or the clothing for their negroes? and if they do, are their
negroes better clothed than when clothing is purchased ?Where, and by whom, is the Cotton bagging of the Brazils
made? is it principally made by free men or slaves?Is it the general system to employ the negroes in task work,
or by the day?How many hours are they generally at work in the former
case? how many in the latter? Which system is generally preferred
by the master? which by the slaves?Is it common to allow them a certain portion of time instead
of their allowance of provisions? In this case, how much is allowed?
Where the slaves have the option, which do they generally choose?
On which system do the slaves look the best, and acquire the most
comforts?Are there many small plantations where the owners possess
only a few slaves? What proportion of the whole may be supposed
to be held in this way?In such cases, are the slaves treated or almost considered a
part of the family?Do the slaves fare the best when their situations and that of
the master are brought nearest together?In what state are the slaves as to religion or religious instruction?
Is it common for the slaves to be regularly married?
If a man forms an attachment to a woman on a different or
distant plantation, is it the general practice for some accommodation
to take place between the owners of the man and woman, so that they
may live together?In the United States of America, the slaves are found to increase
at about the rate of 3 ℘ cent. ℘ annum. Does the same take
place in other places? Give a census, if such is taken. Show what
cause contributes to this increase or what prevents it where it does
not take place.Obtain a variety of estimates from the Planters of the cost
of bringing up a child, and at what age it becomes a clear gain to its
owner.Obtain information respecting the comparative cheapness
of cultivation by slaves or by free men.Is it common for the free blacks to labour in the field?
Where the labourers consist of free blacks and of white men,
what are the relative prices of their labour when employed about the
same work?What is the proportion of free blacks and slaves?
Is it considered that the increase in the proportion of free
blacks to slaves increases or diminishes the danger of insurrection?Are the free blacks employed in the defence of the Country,
and do they and the Creoles preclude the necessity of European
troops?Do the free blacks appear to consider themselves as more
closely connected with the slaves or with the white population? and
in cases of insurrection, with which have they generally taken part?What is their general character with respect to industry and
order, as compared with that of the slaves?Are there any instances of emancipation in particular estates,
and what is the result?Is there any general plan of emancipation in progress, and
what?What was the mode and progress of emancipation in those
States in America where slavery has ceased to exist?—Mad. MSS.
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| The writings of James Madison, | |