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those vacancies.

An effort is being made to have the state assume the charge of all schools in Maryland, but I have no idea that the present Government will have anything to do with the education of the freed people.

The last Legislature in connection with the recent constitutional convention broke up the school system of State and restored the old worn out plan of county systems;  and even were the Legislature to pass a law directing the County Commissioners to assume the charge of the colored schools, yet the trustees of these schools would not dare commit their interests into the hands of those men, not one of whom, to my personal knowledge, is a friend of the education of the freedmen.

The necessity of continued superintendence on the part of the General Government, whose wards these poor people are, was never more apparent than now, and even with the relief afforded by the 15th Amendment, they are powerless - till after the election in November 1871.

I would respectfully urge that the societies which have so nobly helped these people thus far, be appealed to for a continuation of their charities, till the freed people are in condition to help themselves.  If the Govt. withdraws its protection and oversight before that time the cause of Education and the advancement of the freed people will receive a blow which will be almost irreparable, and cause such a disruption of their school interests as will take years to heal.

The state of West Virginia has a school system which embraces both colored and white schools.  Our information is very meager from that state, and consists more in complaints of the injustice shown by the white school boards in the execution of their trusts, than in any information as to the status of the schools.  But few report to this office.  I would respectfully solicit 

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instructions from the General Superintendent as to what is expected of the Supt. in regard to this state.

I am Sir, Very Respectfully
Your obt. servt.
Bvt. Maj. and Supt. of Education for D.C., Md., Del., and W.Va.

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468

Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office Supt. Education, D.C. &c.
Washington, January 3d 1870.

[[underlined]] Ferguson  Miss Mary E. [[/underlined]] 
Robeystown, Md.

Miss:

Your application was duly received and forwarded to the [[underlined]] Pa. Branch F. U. Commission, [[/underlined]] with a request for your appointment as one of the teachers.  We have just received reply, and are happy to inform you that they have complied with our request, but will expect you to gather a school of at least thirty pupils, as they are not willing to support schools of less size.

We send you a school register and blanks.  You will be required to report your school on one of these blanks, and forward it to this office at the end of each month.  Please open school at once.

Very Respectfully, Yours,
W. L. Van Derlip
Bvt. Maj. and Supt. Education
per –

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469

Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office Supt. Education, D.C. &c.
Washington, January 4th 1870.

[[underlined]] Corson  Col. R. R. [[/underlined]] 
Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sir:

Yours received;  and have notified Miss [[underlined]] Ferguson [[/underlined]] of her appointment.