the narrative of the life-第8章
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improperly left it to his son。〃 To all these com…
plaints； no matter how unjust； the slave must an…
swer never a word。 Colonel Lloyd could not brook
any contradiction from a slave。 When he spoke； a
slave must stand； listen； and tremble； and such was
literally the case。 I have seen Colonel Lloyd make
old Barney； a man between fifty and sixty years of
age； uncover his bald head； kneel down upon the
cold； damp ground； and receive upon his naked and
toil…worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the
time。 Colonel Lloyd had three sonsEdward； Mur…
ray； and Daniel；and three sons…in…law； Mr。 Winder；
Mr。 Nicholson； and Mr。 Lowndes。 All of these lived
at the Great House Farm； and enjoyed the luxury of
whipping the servants when they pleased； from old
Barney down to William Wilkes； the coach…driver。
I have seen Winder make one of the house…servants
stand off from him a suitable distance to be touched
with the end of his whip； and at every stroke raise
great ridges upon his back。
To describe the wealth of Colonel Lloyd would
be almost equal to describing the riches of Job。 He
kept from ten to fifteen house…servants。 He was said
to own a thousand slaves； and I think this estimate
quite within the truth。 Colonel Lloyd owned so
many that he did not know them when he saw them；
nor did all the slaves of the out…farms know him。 It
is reported of him； that； while riding along the road
one day； he met a colored man； and addressed him
in the usual manner of speaking to colored people
on the public highways of the south： 〃Well； boy；
whom do you belong to？〃 〃To Colonel Lloyd；〃 re…
plied the slave。 〃Well； does the colonel treat you
well？〃 〃No； sir；〃 was the ready reply。 〃What； does
he work you too hard？〃 〃Yes； sir。〃 〃Well； don't he
give you enough to eat？〃 〃Yes； sir； he gives me
enough； such as it is。〃
The colonel； after ascertaining where the slave
belonged； rode on； the man also went on about his
business； not dreaming that he had been conversing
with his master。 He thought； said； and heard noth…
ing more of the matter； until two or three weeks
afterwards。 The poor man was then informed by his
overseer that； for having found fault with his master；
he was now to be sold to a Georgia trader。 He was
immediately chained and handcuffed； and thus；
without a moment's warning； he was snatched away；
and forever sundered； from his family and friends；
by a hand more unrelenting than death。 This is the
penalty of telling the truth； of telling the simple
truth； in answer to a series of plain questions。
It is partly in consequence of such facts； that
slaves； when inquired of as to their condition and
the character of their masters； almost universally say
they are contented； and that their masters are kind。
The slaveholders have been known to send in spies
among their slaves； to ascertain their views and feel…
ings in regard to their condition。 The frequency of
this has had the effect to establish among the slaves
the maxim； that a still tongue makes a wise head。
They suppress the truth rather than take the con…
sequences of telling it； and in so doing prove them…
selves a part of the human family。 If they have any
thing to say of their masters； it is generally in their
masters' favor； especially when speaking to an un…
tried man。 I have been frequently asked； when a
slave； if I had a kind master； and do not remember
ever to have given a negative answer； nor did I； in
pursuing this course； consider myself as uttering what
was absolutely false； for I always measured the kind…
ness of my master by the standard of kindness set
up among slaveholders around us。 Moreover； slaves
are like other people； and imbibe prejudices quite
common to others。 They think their own better than
that of others。 Many； under the influence of this
prejudice； think their own masters are better than
the masters of other slaves； and this； too； in some
cases； when the very reverse is true。 Indeed； it is
not uncommon for slaves even to fall out and quar…
rel among themselves about the relative goodness of
their masters； each contending for the superior good…
ness of his own over that of the others。 At the very
same time； they mutually execrate their masters
when viewed separately。 It was so on our plantation。
When Colonel Lloyd's slaves met the slaves of Jacob
Jepson； they seldom parted without a quarrel about
their masters； Colonel Lloyd's slaves contending that
he was the richest； and Mr。 Jepson's slaves that he
was the smartest； and most of a man。 Colonel Lloyd's
slaves would boast his ability to buy and sell Jacob
Jepson。 Mr。 Jepson's slaves would boast his ability
to whip Colonel Lloyd。 These quarrels would almost
always end in a fight between the parties； and those
that whipped were supposed to have gained the
point at issue。 They seemed to think that the great…
ness of their masters was transferable to themselves。
It was considered as being bad enough to be a
slave； but to be a poor man's slave was deemed a
disgrace indeed！
CHAPTER IV
Mr。 Hopkins remained but a short time in the
office of overseer。 Why his career was so short； I
do not know； but suppose he lacked the necessary
severity to suit Colonel Lloyd。 Mr。 Hopkins was suc…
ceeded by Mr。 Austin Gore； a man possessing； in
an eminent degree； all those traits of character in…
dispensable to what is called a first…rate overseer。 Mr。
Gore had served Colonel Lloyd； in the capacity of
overseer； upon one of the out…farms； and had shown
himself worthy of the high station of overseer upon
the home or Great House Farm。
Mr。 Gore was proud； ambitious； and persevering。
He was artful； cruel； and obdurate。 He was just the
man for such a place； and it was just the place for
such a man。 It afforded scope for the full exercise
of all his powers； and he seemed to be perfectly
at home in it。 He was one of those who could torture
the slightest look； word； or gesture； on the part of
the slave； into impudence； and would treat it ac…
cordingly。 There must be no answering back to him；
no explanation was allowed a slave； showing himself
to have been wrongfully accused。 Mr。 Gore acted
fully up to the maxim laid down by slaveholders；
〃It is better that a dozen slaves should suffer under the
lash； than that the overseer should be convicted； in
the presence of the slaves； of having been at fault。〃
No matter how innocent a slave might beit availed
him nothing； when accused by Mr。 Gore of any
misdemeanor。 To be accused was to be convicted；
and to be convicted was to be punished； the one
always following the other with immutable certainty。
To escape punishment was to escape accusation； and
few slaves had the fortune to do either； under the
overseership of Mr。 Gore。 He was just proud enough
to demand the most debasing homage of the slave；
and quite servile enough to crouch； himself； at the
feet of the master。 He was ambitious enough to be
contented with nothing short of the highest rank
of overseers； and persevering enough to reach the
height of his ambition。 He was cruel enough to in…
flict the severest punishment； artful enough to de…
scend to the lowest trickery； and obdurate enough to
be insensible to the voice of a reproving conscience。
He was； of all the overseers； the most dreaded by
the slaves。 His presence was painful； his eye flashed
confusion； and seldom was his sharp； shrill voice
heard； without producing horror and trembling in
their ranks。
Mr。 Gore was a grave man； and； though a young
man； he indulged in no jokes； said no funny words；
seldom smiled。 His words were in perfect keeping
with his looks； and his looks were in perfect keeping
with his words。 Overseers will sometimes indulge in
a witty word； even with the slaves； not so with Mr。
Gore。 He spoke but to command； and c
