Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/116

( 82 ) law, immediately cried out with exultation, that he had only given her thirty-nine lashes at one time, and that only three times since the beginning of the night. He then threatened them for breaking his door, and interfering between him and his slave, whom he would flog to death for all any one, and he would give her the fourth thirty-nine lashes before morning, which must have killed her, as she seemed then to be dying. In short, to use the language of the different evidences, it appears that the slaves have no legal redress, in the case alluded to, against their masters and mistresses, the latter of whom, even when they become the executioners on such occasions, are not received for it the worse in society. Perhaps, says Dr. Jackson, "such a one might be called a, but she was not the less respected. It was indeed thought necessary for an industrious wife to be rigid in the punishment of her slaves. It is impossible to omit mentioning here that Lieutenant Davison was so hurt at the severe and frequent whippings of one of these women, that he complained to a magistrate, who said he had nothing to do with it.

With respect to the overseer, whom we have seen also exercising a discretionary power, he is certainly subject to the controul [sic] of the master, if he resides, and in case of his non-residence, to that of the attorney of the estate: but then, says J. Terry, the slaves, if severely punished for trifling faults, dare not complain of him to the master for fear of worse treatment. J. Terry has known them punished by their master for so doing, and sent back to the plantation, though their complaints were just. Mr. Cook also has known slaves punished for complaining to the master, and, in his absence, to the attorney against the overseer, for ill usage. If again, says Coor, the slaves complain to the attorney, and the attorney listens, the overseer says he will leave the estate. He has also seen the attorney wink at the oppression of the slaves, because he has a per centage on the crop, and the more the overseer pushes them, the more the attorney gains. The same per centage on the crop is acknowledged also by Lieut. Davison. Captain Ross nevertheless states that