This was the first of several pages which explained the job of the overseer. The overseer was in charge of the slaves but was usually not a slave himself:

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Translation:

Overseer

The Overseer will never be expected to work in the field, but he must always be with the hands when not otherwised engaged in the Employer's business & will be required to attend on occasion to any pecuniary transaction connected with the plantation.

Remarks - The Overseer should never give away, sell or exchange, nor buy, order or contract for anything without the full knowledge of the Employer & positive orders to do so.

The Overseer must never be absent a single night, nor an entire day, without permission previously obtained. Whenever absent at church, or elsewhere, he must be on the plantation by sundown without fail.

Taken from James Henry Hammond's "Plantation Books, 1832-1858" c/o Library of Congress Manuscript Division.