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Bureau R.F and A. Land
Sub. Dist of Grenada Miss
Grenada June 30th 1867

Maj A.W. Preston.
A.A.A.G. S.D.Miss

Major
I have the honor to report that the estimated freed population in this Sub. Dist based upon the census of 1866 is 56.971.
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No of Freedmen in Sub. Dist
Their Condition
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There condition is slowly but steadily improving, each and every point toward legal and political equality is contested by there former Masters and when gained is sought to be perverted to there benefit. These people can not yet be made to realize that the freedman and not they should have the benefit of his labor, and the freedman himself, as yet cannot divest himself of his feeling of dependence, and in his blind confidence is the victims of any white man who will pretend to be his friend, He knows nothing of contracts and will sign his mark to an instrument where he is to do everything he is told to do and if at any time he fails he is to forfeit all and if he loses any time he is to be charged at the rate of three for one, The whole system of contracting in this Sub. Dist, needs changing in its stead should be a uniform style of contracts with the interest of both parties protected there should be made in triplicate and all the copys carefully examined and approved by and a copy filed with the Commissioner
over