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Davis Bend Miss  July 1865 

Conl Saml Thomas 
Comdy Freedmen ? Weis
Dr Sir

We the undersigned colored lepees of Hurricane Plantation Davis Bend Miss, Most Respectfully beg leave to enter our protest against the efforts persistently and as we think unfairly being made to misrepresent our views and wishes with regard to the ginning of the cotton raised by us on this plantation. It has been asserted that are have neither means, Mechanical & ? nor business capacity to conduct the ginning of our own cotton!
As to the first objection it is hardly worth a notice, for if there we would be more seriously damaged than others. As to the Mechanical & ? we can justly claim that our money would procure that, as readily as it would for others - and as to business capacity we are proud to be able to say that in that particular it would be no experiment or adventure on our part, and is well known that we have among our members those who while slaves, successfully conducted not only the ginning of cotton, but also all the business transactions connected with the same, and herein thus been intrusted as slaves we can see no just grounds for doubt as to our ability to do the same as freemen on our own account.


It is but natural that we should desire to recognize as much as possible the expenses of preparing our cotton for Market.
While it would at the same time be a source of pride to be able to demonstrate to the world our capacity to manage our affairs, Not only in raising but in preparing and {{bottom line unable to read]]