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with provisions, stock, &c. and they have made contracts (unknown to the Bureau) with freedmen.  The owners of said farmers have taken care to save themselves out of the crops made.  These adventurers have (like every body else) been mistaken in their calculations - their crop are sorry.  There is no chance for them to save anything for themselves but to swindle the freedmen who worked to make the crop.  Such instances as this I am proud to say are rare, as far as my knowledge extends I know of but one.  Most of the farmers are particular to deal fairly with the freedmen.  It is their interest to do so, for if they do not, they can not lure them again.

I would be glad to hear from you, and receive such suggestions as you may see proper to make.  It is at the insistence of a few [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] freedmen that I have written.  I desire, & have promised them, to protect them in their rights, and enforce the speedy payment of their wages, if possible.

Very Respectfully yours,
F. A. Dulany,
Justice of the Peace, Wilcox Co., Ala.

To
Maj Gen Swayne
Montgomery,
Ala.