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war, have settled down into their former occupations, as citizens and laborers, with a much more commendable spirit than was at first expected of them.

All the civil Officers of the County have been re-instated and are active in the exercise of the functions of their several offices, and to such an extent have law and order been restored, that there is proportionably but a small amount of that jayhawking and marauding that was so very prevalent at the close of the war.

All complaints made by citizens, I have sedulously avoided, referring them to the Magistrates of the County, who are working with commendable zeal to restore peace and order.

The Planters, as a body, are willing and desirous, to conform to all orders and regulations governing Freedmen, and everywhere I have been welcomed and assisted, rather than repulsed and hindered in the discharge of my duties.

Since coming here, I have visited quite a number of Plantations, and explained, to both planters and freedmen, their new relations to each other, and, in doing so, I have found some difficulties, both in securing from the planter a proper recognition of the rights and privileges of the negroes, as freedmen, and also in correcting exaggerated and distorted ideas, entertained by the freedmen, of those rights and privileges.

The citizens entertain very decided prejudice against negro free labor and suffrage and desire to re-enslave him or substitute for the slavery abolished, a certain condition of 

Transcription Notes:
jayhawking — generic term for armies plundering and looting from civilian populations sedulously — diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous