Of the master’s own functions Hammond wrote in another place:  “A planter should have all his work laid out, days, weeks, months, seasons and years ahead, according to the nature of it.  He must go from job to job without losing a moment in turning round, and he must have all the parts of his work so arranged that due proportion of attention may be bestowed upon each at the proper time.  More is lost by doing work out of season, and doing it better or worse than is requisite, than can readily be supposed.  Negroes are harassed by it, too, instead of being indulged; so are mules, and everything else.  A halting, vacillating, undecided course, now idle, now overstrained, is more fatal on a plantation than in any other kind of business—­ruinous as it is in any."[6]

[Footnote 6:  Letter of Hammond to William Gilmore Simms, Jan. 21, 1841, from Hammond’s MS. copy in the Library of Congress.]

In the overseer all the virtues of a master were desired, with a deputy’s obedience added.  Corbin enjoined upon his staff that they “attend their business with diligence, keep the negroes in good order, and enforce obedience by the example of their own industry, which is a more effectual method in every respect than hurry and severity.  The ways of industry,” he continued, “are constant and regular, not to be in a hurry at one time and do nothing at another, but to be always usefully and steadily employed.  A man who carries on business in this manner will be prepared for every incident that happens.  He will see what work may be proper at the distance of some time and be gradually and leisurely preparing for it.  By this foresight he will never be in confusion himself, and his business, instead of a labor, will be a pleasure to him.”  Weston wrote:  “The proprietor wishes particularly to impress upon the overseer the criterions by which he will judge of his usefullness and capacity.  First, by the general well-being of all the negroes; their cleanly appearance, respectful manners, active and vigorous obedience; their completion of their tasks well and early; the small amount of punishment; the excess of births over deaths; the small number of persons in hospital; and the health of the children.  Secondly, the condition and fatness of the cattle and mules; the good repair of all the fences and buildings, harness, boats, flats and ploughs; more particularly the good order of the banks and trunks, and the freedom of the fields from grass and volunteer [rice].  Thirdly, the amount and quality of the rice and provision crops....  The overseer is expressly forbidden from three things, viz.:  bleeding, giving spirits to any negro without a doctor’s order, and letting any negro on the place have or keep any gun, powder or shot.”  One of Acklen’s prohibitions upon his overseers was:  “Having connection with any of my female servants will most certainly be visited with a dismissal from my employment, and no excuse can or will be taken.”