“When I used to go out to ’tend upon white ladies,” said Rose, “they gave me ten dollars.  Mistress always took half and let me keep the other half.”

“Well, hereafter, you may keep the ten dollars yourself.”

“Thank you.”

After a pause, she spoke again: 

“Didn’t you say the black people are free?”

“Yes.”

“White people are free, too, ain’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Then why shouldn’t you pay me ten dollars every time I ’tend upon the black folks on the plantation?”

The question was evidently designed as a “corner.”  I evaded it by assuring Rose that though free, the negroes had not attained all the privileges that pertained to the whites, and I should insist on her professional services being free to all on the plantation.

The negroes were frequently desirous of imitating the customs of white people in a manner that should evince their freedom.  Especially did they desire to have no distinction in the payment of money, on account of the color of the recipient.

After this Sunday talk with the negroes, I found a material improvement.  Occasionally I overheard some of them explaining to others their views upon various points.  There were several who manifested a natural indolence, and found it difficult to get over their old habits.  These received admonitions from their comrades, but could not wholly forget the laziness which was their inheritance.  With these exceptions, there was no immediate cause for complaint.

During the earlier part of my stay in that region, I was surprised at the readiness with which the negroes obeyed men from the North, and believed they would fulfill their promises, while they looked with distrust on all Southern white men.  Many owners endeavored in vain to induce their negroes to perform certain labor.  The first request made by a Northern man to the same effect would be instantly complied with.  The negroes explained that their masters had been in the habit of making promises which they never kept, and cited numerous instances to prove the truth of their assertion.  It seemed to have been a custom in that region to deceive the negroes in any practicable manner.  To make a promise to a negro, and fail to keep it, was no worse than to lure a horse into a stable-yard, by offering him a choice feed of corn, which would prove but a single mouthful.  That the negroes had any human rights was apparently rarely suspected by their owners and overseers.  The distrust which many of the negroes entertained for their former masters enabled the lessees to gain, at once, the confidence of their laborers.  I regret to say that this confidence was abused in a majority of cases.