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Hillsborough N. C.
March 17th 1868

General Miles
U. S. A.

Sir:-

The enclosed letter, with the accompanying paper, was received by me this morning and in compliance with the request of the writer, I take the liberty of enclosing them to you with a statement of the facts to which the letter alludes.

It is proper, in the first place, to say that the plantation, on which the negroes were engaged, is in Rockingham County about sixty miles from this place, and that my father, Judge Ruffin, who is the owner resides here and is very aged, and at the present time more than usually infirm from a resent attack of sickness, so that he is quite unable to give his personal attention to the subject of controversy, between his Agent and the Labourers; but that he has been at all times himself scrupulously just and liberal in his dealings with the negroes in his employment and has impressed a similar course of conduct on his Agent, as not only dictated by a sense of Honour and Honesty, but as being likewise the "wisest policy".  From the terms of the Contract you will see that the Agent, Abbott, reserves to himself the right to withhold any portion of the crop, that may be coming to any of the Labourers until his account for supplies shall have been satisfied.  That right is clearly and indisputably given by the contract and is moreover founded in simple justice.

Last year the wheat and other small grain crops were divided according to the terms of the Contract and about them there is no dispute, as I understand, nor about the amount of provisions furnished the several hands, nor the prices charged.  But, Abbott, the Agent, did not pay to them their several shares of the corn, because they are indebted to him, and he withholds the corn until the Tobacco is sent to market, and, if that sells for enough to pay their respective debts to him, he will immediately deliver to each man the corn he is entitled to, otherwise he will retain all or enough of the corn to satisfy his demand against them, according to the terms of the Contract.  It is not yet the best nor proper time to send Tobacco to market, nor is it generally in a condition for market - as soon as it is prized, it will be sent to Richmond for sale and the account of sales will be submitted