“ It is a matter of no consequence, therefore, what objections are advanced against your work, nor in what poor consideration it may be held; it is a matter of no consequence what difficulties present themselves, nor what discouragements—You are doing your duty. ”

“ You do not relax the proper discipline of your families, because you train them up religiously. No more, then, should you relax the proper discipline of your servants.
By discipline we do not intend severity. Severity is not discipline, though there is no good discipline without some severity. The great principle to be infixed is subordination. That infixed, and in general discipline is easy: that is, as easy as it can be with people in their condition.
7. In connection with proper discipline on plantations, the police of the County, for the helping of your efforts, should be strict. ”

“ As a proof of this, I venture nothing when I declare, that the most faithful servants, and those who are exerting the most happy influence in this County, are those who in sober judgment, are decidedly pious men. We speak not of those who are Christians by profession only. There are many such we know, and their number is not to be wondered at, considering their opportunities of instruction. If by faithful, judicious instruction, the numher of pious servants is increased, we shall directly perceive and acknowledge the great benefit of Religion amongst them. ”

“ The effect of this kindly feeling on the part of the master towards his servants, will be, to increase both his respect and obedience.
The period of our labours is too short to look for any general effect throughout the County, on the moral character of the negroes. Every one knows that their moral character is deplorable enough. Some even despair of its improvement. But we are sanguine that they are as capable of moral improvement as any other people. All they need is the same persevering care and attention, the same privileges of the Gospel. ”

“ We think that there is an increase of interest in the religious instruction of the negroes. It is becoming in the minds of many a duty, that we cannot slight without incurring guilt. We may say, in the minds of some Christions amongst us, a conscience has been formed; and we hope the day may speedily arrive, when one of the standing evidences of our conversion to God will be, our attention to the spiritual wants of our servants, as it certainly should be. ”

“ The children who have been taken under a course of instruction, are, thus far, as much interested and as apt in receiving knowledge, as children of any colour under similar circumstances, and of the same age. No doubt rests on my mind, that if God spares our lives to continue our labours, we shall see a moral elevation in the character of servants, which we have never yet witnessed either in this County, or in any other part of the Southern country.
The number of actual conversions your Agent has no means of giving you. He receives those who profess conversion in no particular Church ”

“ I scarcely need suggest the necessity of paying special attention to the comfort of the negroes in their houses, food, clothing, etc.
Unless we attend to the improvement of their physical condition, our efforts to improve their moral condition, will be very nearly abortive; for we shall practically deny what we preach. In order to this, we must moderate our desires for the accumulation of property, which is the sin of us all, and a sin, the indulgence of which carries no small discomfort to those through whose labour we obtain what we desire. ”

“ When the Sabbath comes, to Church, as a matter of course, the Christian master goes, and gives himself little trouble for the fate of his servants on that day. He never thinks for a moment that he should deny himself some privileges, to impart blessings to his servants. He possesses no spirit of self-denial for their good.
6. I would suggest again, that the discipline of plantations be strictly continued and perfected.
Some there are who relax discipline as soon as they begin to give religious instruction. ”

“ Those planters who have been kind enough to attend one or more of our Sabbath exercises, have testified to the pleasantness of the meetings, and the interest which they felt in them. Your Missionary deeply regrets, that he has not been supported as frequently as he could wish, in this way. It is not expedient, generally, to have in attendance a large number of white persons ”

“ But the negroes do not feel perfectly at home in the white Churches, and especially when there may be fifteen or twenty white persons present. A separate place of worship, exclusively their own, would place them more at their ease, and enable the Missionary to conduct his exercises as he please. ”

“ Others suppose, that the fact of giving religious instruction, obliges a relaxation of discipline; and knowing that all success in planting would consequently be destroyed, discard such instruction altogether. We believe both to be in the wrong. ”

“ More kindly feelings are going out towards him, and a greater disposition is manifested for his improvement, morally and physically. I speak now of those planters who have really given consideration to the work which you have undertaken; and thus you perceive that your work has an intimate bearing upon all the interests of the negro. ”

“ What you do for their salvation, do it not feebly, but energetically. Unless you are believing and active, the work will not advance; neither will the hearts of friends be encouraged, nor their numbers be increased. ”

“ These stations are advantageously chosen. Each one accommodates a large number of negroes. And it is proper to remark in this place, that there should always be a station in every neighbourhood that can furnish a respectable congregation; and for the plain reason, that the shorter the distance which the negroes have to walk, the better; and in this way, not only the attendance of a larger number of adults is seemed, but also the attendance of a larger number of children, which we consider an object of the first importance. ”

“ One thing which greatly contributes to the encouragement of insubordination and running away, besides this relaxation of County police, is, the leaving plantations from month to month, and from year to year, without any resident white person. ”

“ They must be trained as moral and accountable beings from their infancy; and as their fathers and mothers are both without leisure or qualifications for the task, it devolves under Providence, upon the master. ”

“ Suffer me, in the next place, to call your attention to the field of labour which this County affords.
The County contains a population of 1544 whites and 5729 blacks, which gives a proportion of 3 2-3 black to one white, according to the census of 1830. ”

“ It is suggested again, that plantation meetings be held exclusively for residents on the plantation; and that negroes on surrounding plantations be discouraged from attending.
4. Also, that the members of the Association would commence some regular system of instruction for the negro children.
The great hope of benefitting permanently the morals of servants, lies in commencing early with them. It is folly to expect any good from those who are left to the mercy of unhallowed passions and influences during the early years of life ”