[1862 February 3]

[The following clipping from a recent issue of the South Western Baptist was included in R. D. Powell's letter to General John Hartwell Cocke. It describes Cocke's Alabama plantation by the minister who was hired to preach to his slaves]

A Model Plantation

Mr. Editor: It is my lot to visit sometimes, in
a certain neighborhood where I preach occa-
sionally, what may be considered a model
plantation; one I think after God's own heart;
one which I think dignifies and elevates the
institution of slavery to the position which I
conceive the diving originator would always
have it to occupy. The arrangements on this
plantation have been attended with such hap-
py consequences to master and servants, that
I think it my duty to give to the world a de-
scription for the benefit of many Christians
who are going contrary to their own interest
in not giving their servants the very highest re-
ligious privileges. The owner of this planta-
tion has provided, in connection with two of
his neighbors, for having the Gospel preached
to his servants three times a month, having
gone to the expense of erecting a neat and
comfortable brick church for them, with a
stove to keep it warm. This you will say is
no unusual thing, except the stove. And I am
willing to grant it is not, for I am rejoiced to
know that our planters are, many of them,
awaking to their duty in this respect. But,
brethren, this is not all he has done for their
religious instruction. although, as a resident
of another State, he is compelled to be absent
from them himself a greater portion of the
time, he has arrangements made by which the
word of God is read and prayers are daily of-
fered up among his people. Every morning
at daylight they assemble in the basement of
the dwelling house, where ample seats are
supplied for about sixty to hear the good Book
read, to sing a hymn, and to lift their hearts in
devotion to God. And what has been thus far
the result of all this? Is it like the morning pray-
ers in some of our schools and college chapels,
a dull and formal drag? Far from it. I do not
know where my soul ever has such a refresh-
ing influence from association with the holy
atmosphere of devout hearts, as it as
when I meet with those Christian ser-
vants. There is very little of the dead feel-
ing of formality there. Out of sixty hands
on that plantation there are only two who are
not members of the Baptist church. All are
members of the same church, not by any rule
or law requiring them to join that church, or
no other; not because any great effort is used
to get them to join that church; but they have,
we trust, been led by the Spirit to cast in their
lot among the true people of God. At another
plantation near there, belonging to the same
master, out of twenty-five hands twenty-three
are members of the Baptist church. They are
all orderly, well behaved members, too. Every
one is held to a strict attention to Christian
duty. Occasionally there are one or two who
may deviate from the right path, but not often.
Well, what is the effect of t his on the planta-
tion? It is marvellous:--fine crops are made with
little or no trouble. Fat mules, horses and
cows, the soil well supplied with guano and
plaster of Paris, a plenty of vegetables, nice
clean clothing, and an abundant cotton crop,
and hosts of little negroes attest the benefits of
the plan. Nay, I would not be surprised if
the good health of the master at the unusual
age of eighty-five, is not some way con-
nected with that prayer meeting.
His servants are more intelligent, healthier,
more obedient, and do more work in the
course of the year than any man's in the coun-
try, who pursues a different course. Now, is
not ths example worthy of imitation? God
send it into the hearts of his people to give
their servants religious instruction and to see
that they attend to it.
Brethren, God has a blessing for you if you
will attend to your duty in this respect. If
every slaveholder pursued such a course
as I have described, with his servants, all the
abolitionists in the world would never get a
slave to leave us. C.E. BRAEME
Greensboro, Ala., April 9, 1861

MSS 640