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Florida and will return in about two weeks.

The freedmen that remain her have a fearful time - they dare not attempt escape and they remain subgect to hard labor without a hope of compensation

I return here this eveng and am gathering all the evidence I possibly can quietly but surely - and with a view to arrest the guilty parties so soon as I can get clear and conclusive evidence.

I find the people here very deceitful and decidedly hostile to the Genl Govermt and treat with undesguise Contempt the efforts being made to introduce paid labor, they strenuously insist that the Freedmen must be drove with the Lash and they will not [[reason?]] on the principle that these people are free - further intercourse may develope some thing more favorable - but at present they are decidedly averse to any claim of Freedms rights.

I have just received your communication and shall [[minutely?]] follow the instructions - ther is no Gainville in this or Clark Co but a [[Guistown?]] 25 miles below here - I find there is much to do here and more to do in Clark - one cannot learn anything riding through the County but let a person stop and enquire, and the seeming peace and quiet to the County is false - the demeanor of the Citizens deceptive - and the truth reaches you only through the victyms corroborated by the testimony of the few poor white Citizens who sympathize with the Freedmen

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-28 16:55:35 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-28 17:13:33