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to come out and aid the Country in this department of endeavor.  He has a family who stand well in society and he with them was active in the early part of the war in recruiting for the Army and in going and laboring for the good of the Soldiers.

He has many friends as well as some foes on Roanoke Island and I agree with the former class in thinking that if Mr. Streeter is punished with the severity implied in the sentence of the Commission he will be punished as an innocent victim of ignorantand I fear malicious people.

With his many friends I consider him incapable of the crime of "embezzlement of public funds" or intentional "misapplication of public property." I believe him equally incapable of "fraud" and as to "cruel and abusive treatment of colored people" the whole community at the Island knows the contrary.

The [[underlined]] gravamen [[/underlined]] of his [[strikethrough]] if his [[/strikethrough]] offence, the refusal of rations to the men, healthy women and full grown boys on the Island, itself required the exercise of high moral courage, and a stern sense of duty. It would have been infinitely easier to have given them all the food they demanded, and had he done so, [[underlined]] the investigation the charges and the trial would never have occured. [[/underlined]]

I submit therefore with all respect and deference, that much of the evidence on which he has been condemned, might rather be adduced in proof of his integrity and faithfulness. 

If such a man as he is confined at hard labor in Fort Macon, while rebels of four years standing, and steeped in treason and blood, are admitted to pardon, it will look to many as if right and wrong had changed places, and justice were trampled under foot.