“At the rolling of sugars, an interval of from two to three months, they work both night and day.  Abridged of their sleep, they scarce retire to rest during the whole period.”

The Western Review, No. 2,—­article “Agriculture of Louisiana.”

“The work is admitted to be severe for the hands, (slaves,) requiring when the process is commenced to be pushed night and day.”

W.C.  Gildersleeve, Esq., a native of Georgia, elder of the Presbyterian church, Wilkesbarre, Penn.

“Overworked I know they (the slaves) are.”

Mr. Asa A. Stone, a theological student, near Natchez, Miss., in 1834 and 1835.

“Every body here knows overdriving to be one of the most common occurrences, the planters do not deny it, except, perhaps, to northerners.”

Philemon Bliss, Esq., a lawyer of Elyria, Ohio, who lived in Florida in 1834 and 1835.

“During the cotton-picking season they usually labor in the field during the whole of the daylight, and then spend a good part of the night in ginning and baling.  The labor required is very frequently excessive, and speedily impairs the constitution.”

Hon. R.J.  Turnbull of South Carolina, a slaveholder, speaking of the harvesting of cotton, says: 

“All the pregnant women even, on the plantation, and weak and sickly negroes incapable of other labour, are then in requisition.”

HOURS OF LABOR AND REST.

Asa A. Stone, theological student, a classical teacher near Natchez, Miss., 1835.

“It is a general rule on all regular plantations, that the slaves be in the field as soon as it is light enough for them to see to work, and remain there until it is so dark that they cannot see.”

Mr. Cornelius Johnson, of Farmington, Ohio, who lived in Mississippi a part of 1837 and 1838.

“It is the common rule for the slaves to be kept at work fifteen hours in the day, and in the time of picking cotton a certain number of pounds is required of each.  If this amount is not brought in at night, the slave is whipped, and the number of pounds lacking is added to the next day’s job; this course is often repeated from day to day.”

W.C.  Gildersleeve, Esq., Wilkesbarre, Penn, a native of Georgia.  “It was customary for the overseers to call out the gangs long before day, say three o’clock, in the winter, while dressing out the crops; such work as could be done by fire light (pitch pine was abundant,) was provided.”

Mr. William Leftwich, a native of Virginia and son of a slaveholder—­he has recently removed to Delhi, Hamilton County, Ohio.

“From dawn till dark, the slaves are required to bend to their work.”

Mr. Nehemiah Caulkins, Waterford, Conn., a resident in North Carolina eleven winters.

“The slaves are obliged to work from daylight till dark, as long as they can see.”