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can be collected. In commencing work this year the freedmen generally were entirely destitute of clothing which made it necessary for the employer to advance to them, before they were in a condition to go into the field. Many of them have large families of children who are too young to work and provisions being high but few of them will come out at the end of the year with a balance in their favor.

As a general thing they appear cheerful and satisfied and are looking forward hopefully for better times. Many of them express a desire to obtain homes of their own.

Some of the largest planters have informed me that they intend next year to rent out their plantations in small lots to freedmen at a nominal rent, the freedmen to have the exclusive control and management taking a lien on the crop as security for the rent.

As a race the freedmen are improvident  they spend their money for trifles, when they are actually in need of the necessaries of life.

I am of the opinion that the freedmen are as well paid for their labor as the planters can afford. Those working for a portion of the crop are paid at the end of the year or when the crop is gathered.

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