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During the month also we have come through not exactly into collision, yet into very direct contact with the militia system of this State. As this system had in Mississippi received the peremptory sanction of the President. I have heretofore been retained in regard to it. Indeed, before the holidays, though one utterly disbelieved the rumors of approaching insurrection, it was improper to forbid all measures of defense. But even then the creation of whole squads of special constables, with arbitrary powers did not fail to attract such lawless characters as here abound, and to bear its natural fruits. These I then bon with because they were inseparable from the system. But [[underlined]]now[[underlined]] when a statement of appreciation is a prima face in for her [[head]]falsehood, and here where it is the rule to carry arms, the weaker part should not be forbidden  to do so, nor systematic plunder carried on if I could help it. So I wrote a short letter, a copy of which I sent you, which produced infinite growling, but has in several respects given the right some strength.[[deleted]]the[[deleted]]

Some time since, on an intimation from Maj Gen Woods. Comiss. Department, I filed with him my emphatic protest against the removal of the troops, feeling sure that their presence is as yet indispensable to the comfort and security not only of the freedmen but of other parties who naturally confide first in the General  Government . In this connection I may recall the early and persistent application for cavalry in this State, which

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was made by myself, and seconded by Gov Parsons. Reasons of the same nature still exist, through not of the same urgency. It is not the resistance of lawless characters and rebels that we have to contend with,   the difficulty is to catch them. Infantry in masses perhaps creates as much lawlessness as it prevents, but I am and have been confident that a few companies of cavalry so stationed that the radii of their operations would reach the whole State, would be of great service both as a police force and for the moral effect.

The universal commingling of the freedmen during the holidays has caused a spread of contagious disease, and during the month we have been much concerned at the prevalence of small pox. The labors of Surgeon Kipp have been very useful in this regard. He had organized a number of small pox Hospitals about the State, the charge of which  has been assumed by the local authorities. We have however been doing all we could to help them with provisions and clothing for these who have recovered, and in this place about four fifths of the patients being freedmen we made a single contribution of fuel. Free distribution of vaccine matter has also been made as we could spare it, and I do not think it is now on the increase.  Undoubtedly we should have had much more suffering of this as of all other kinds but for the very open and mild winter we have been blessed with thus far.

In the matter of schools we are still only at the threshold. Rev John B. Taylor formerly