_Captain Oliver's, Jan. 4._ Mr. Philbrick has very generously offered
to assist three or four of us poorer superintendents in buying
plantations. If we do not buy, the occupation of most of us is
probably gone. Government will probably retain possession of many
plantations from the lack of purchasers,--but they will be the poorer
ones and those where the people will be subject to such influences
that our purposes will meet with little success. For such plantations
superintendents may be needed, but, besides doing little good, their
own position I think will be very unpleasant. Nor do I think it
unmanly to withdraw from such plantations. The irregular wayward life
which the people on such places would probably lead undoubtedly
will help to develop their self-reliance, but our style of
development--that of regular, persistent industry--is so wholly
different, that I doubt the wisdom of attempting to yoke the two
styles together. In one point experience confirms what theory would
suggest,--that their own increasing comfort or _misery_ will be a far
stronger agent in the development of these people than any amount of
outside human effort.
I think I shall accept Mr. Philbrick's offer. I wish to stay down
here, and I see no satisfactory way of so doing, except by this
arrangement. It may turn out disastrously,--so be it; the Government
will probably refund the purchase-money in case the lands return to
the Confederate States either by capture or compromise. But with
success, I doubt if I should realize the amount of my present salary
and support. If the lands sell at a nominal price, however, they are
worth that risk. To stay in the work is my object.
I am having a pretty hard time at present. The people are very
wayward,--now they work and then they stop,--and some stop before they
begin. Several men have been acting badly, too; I actually knocked a
man down the other day,--and think I did right,--for the first time in
my life. It very much hurts one's popularity to be often severe,--and
one's reputation with higher authorities also, I fear. My places have
the disadvantage--to me--of being very near headquarters, and my
people have learned through a very unwise act--the removal of a
superintendent on the complaint of the negroes--the benefit of
appealing from me. I have always been sustained--otherwise I should
probably have resigned; but it very much weakens my authority, and, as
I said, probably my reputation. But the worst is that it discourages
and dulls one for the work.