The apprentices almost to a man are ready to work for wages during their own time.

When the overseer is severe towards them, they prefer working on other plantations, even for less wages, as is very natural.
11.

Almost all the evils of the apprenticeship arise from the obstinacy and oppressive conduct of the overseers.

They are constantly taking advantage of the defects of the system, which are many, and while they demand to the last grain's weight "the pound of flesh," they are utterly unwilling to yield the requirements which the law makes of them.

Where you find an overseer endeavoring in every way to overreach the apprentices, taking away the privileges which they enjoyed during slavery, and exacting from them the utmost minute and mite of labor, there you will find abundant complaints both against the master and the apprentice.