Viewing page 221 of 281

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

he should receive advice! If he did intend they should thus understand him, it appears to me he is guilty of working an evil that he or any other man of principle ought to be ashamed of! for to trifle with a people whose minds are strained to the utmost to understand their true position, and to act well their parts as citizens as they [[strikethrough]] invariably [[/strikethrough]] generally have done is a sin, which will haunt the mind of the guilty man who does it to his grave, no matter how great the personal gain he may secure.

It is not my intention or desire to bring unjust charges against Mr. Bowen, nor to mix in any of his political affairs, except as insofar as he may work injuries to the people under my charge, by his, either, foolish, or knavish misrepresentations leaving wrong impressions, with a promise to repeat them at some future day. 

I would therefore respectfully request that a man who has something besides his self interest at stake, and who is capable of talking plain unvarnished truth should explain to the freedmen here