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400 Head Quarters Sub Dist of Alabama Montgomery Ala Feb 14" 1867 /432 Bright Edward Esq Corresponding Secretary New York City Dear Sir I wrote you yesterday in reply to your favor of the 8" inst. Today I mail to you the Montgomery Advertiser of this date giving an an account of the destitution in Cherokee County. It is satisfactory to think that at the time that article was written, considerable shipments were enroute to that locality. I enclose to you herewith some extracts from the report of M.H. Cruikshank, Commissioner for the destitute, made to the Governor in November last. Two officers are now out making a purchase of Corn on Government account, and some bacon. I expect to go to Mobile tonight, and will see Mr Richardson, to whom your consignment is directed. Where it can be done to good advantage, a portion of the supplies will be placed in the hands of reliable colored men for distribution to the suffering of their own race. Very Respectfully Your obdt servant Maj Genl & Asst Commr Head Quarters Sub Dist of Alabama Montgomery Ala Feb 14" 1867 /400 Probate Judge Tallapoosa Co Dudeville Ala Sir Statement has been made at this office that John Mulligan of Rome in your County has in his possession a child of Phebe named Sopronia who is not apprenticed to him and whom he refuses to give up to its Mother. Will you please inform the Probate Judge of Macon Co if the child has been apprenticed that such steps as will promote the ends of justice may be taken. The Mother of the child is now working for A.J. Blount Cross Keys Macon Co. Very Respectfully Your obdt servant O.D. Kinsman Supt 401 Head Quarters Sub Dist of Alabama Montgomery Ala Feb 14" 1867 391/418 Howard Major Genl O.O. Commissioner Freedmens Bureau Washington D.C. General I have the honor to enclose to you, with considerable satisfaction, copies of two bills the passage of which through the Legislature was completed yesterday. 1. A bill to repeal the Act of Dec 1" 1865. This abrogates in express terms the "Vagrant-law" alluded to in my report, as the instrument of so much wickedness and suffering. Freedmen are now free at least in form, and if maltreated or unpaid, they can appeal at any time to competition, labor being very scarce. 2". A bill to give farm laborers a lien upon the product of their labor for its dues. This is not all it ought to be, for it gives only the third lien not the first. We cant clear out old customs all at once, and that of mortgaging the crop for means to make it with, is firmly rooted in the Southern mind and laws. But it goes a great ways. It will do a great deal to compel prompt settlements, and the term "necessary supplies" cannot be made to cover a great deal of fraud. We shall at once take steps to have those contracts put in writing, which have not been so perfected. The school bill as you know, has passed the House. It will be much amended in the Senate, but not in such a way as to impair its benefits to Freedmen. I am General Very Respectfully Your obdt servant Major General and Asst Commissioner
