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Union Springs, Ala.
Oct 21/65

His Excellency A. Johnson, President N.G.
 
Without presuming to instruct your Excellency as to any line of policy, a private citizen may nevertheless less acquaint you with facts as they exist where he himself lives.

The readiness with which the people have unanimously taken the oath is proof of their anxiety to return to the Union and of their intention to give the government no just cause of complaint.

Whatever may have been their former political opinions, they intend to render a sincere and hearty obedience to the obligations of the oath, and as they have given no indication to the contrary, they feel it a great grievance to have soldiers quartered on them.

Your removal of the garrison from among us would greatly facilitate the restoration of attachment to the General Government.

However honorable may be most of the officers and many of the privates, there are not wanting in the ranks large numbers of depraved men who visit the kitchens and negro houses, associate familiarly with the negroes, and instill into them the most corrupt principles. This influence has rendered the negroes more thievish and less disposed to work; so that it is impossible to get the negroes to make contracts for next year. Illustrative of this I will give you two incidence which have come