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[[quar]]rels, no murder with these weapons which they have had in their hands for three years. Neither, I believe, have any serious accidents occurred, showing that they have not unwisely been trusted with them.
 
I can find no other organization among them and all indignantly deny having an intention to rebel in any way against "yankee" law or to resist the Government. I think it probable that the returned soldiers did wish and intend to keep up their drill and discipline, that they might be ready to defend themselves should the Northerners leave the state, thus placing them as they suppose, at the mercy of their old masters. So long as the contest with the rebels was of doubtful issue, these islanders were sedulously taught by most of the Northern men here, that the time might come when such self defense would be necessary, and feeling that the necessity may yet arise, they wish to be prepared for it. The "Society" was organized by the advice of Northern colored men. It was publicly urged upon them in the Baptist Church building, at a large general meeting on June 8th, Bishop Paine being present, that they should raise a fund which might "meet emergencies." They were advised to put it into the hands of a "Society" of themselves, and to use it for the improvement of their condition in matters educational, commercial, and military. They were told of the importance of such a fund, in order to have power to carry out plans for their welfare and