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Transcribe page 212 of 255
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Download PDF for NMAAHC-004567406_00420 (project ID 13748)
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2. Bureau of R.F. & A. Lands Office Sub District of E. City N.C. Monthly Report of the Condition of the Freed-people and Operations of the Freedmen's Bureau at Elizabeth City No. Carolina, during the month of November 1868. Date | November 1818 Station | Elizabeth city, N.C. Officer in Charge | Wm. H. Doherty, [[?]] Agent Bu &c. Remarks. No census of the freed-people have been taken in this Sub-District. Their number is extremely variable. In the crop season from Feby. to July they generally, live on the farms where they labor - but during the remainder of the year they often linger unemployed in Elizabeth City & suffer with their families, by want of food, fuel and clothing. In view of this great evil I am laboring to persuade them to make permanent annual agreements with the farmers, & contract for a house & garden & regular wages to be paid monthly - and many have succeeded in procuring themselves & families comfortable homes throughout the year with good wages from $10.0/100 to $11.00/100 per month - the farmers however prefer the present prevailing bad system, as they are thus able to cast off their laborers just as soon as the crops are cultivated & perhaps little permanent improvement can be looked for until education & intelligence have become more general among the poor Freedmen & they are able to see their interests & provide for the future better than at present. [[underlined]] Violation of Contracts [[/underlined]] The numerous difficulties which have arisen from the very defficient crops of this year and the uncertainty & contradictions respecting the terms of the Verbal Contracts which are still made to some extent & through the [[underlined]] cunning [[/underlined]] of the employers & the ignorance of the employed are now in a great measure settled - but we have great complaints from the freedmen who have worked for a portion of the crops as well as from the farmers at the low price of corn being only worth 55 cents per bushel cash. It is believed that fair & impartial Justice will be done to the Colored Laborers here as Colored men are appointed as Magistrates & also called upon as Jurors - I having been appointed by his Excellency Gov. Holden as a Justice of the Peace for Pasquotank Co. am able to continue protecting the rights of the Freedmen when Over
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