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Crawford Jan 9 1866
Wager Swayne
Brig Gen
Montgomery Ala 

Dear Sir
I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject connected with some decisions by the Judge of Probate of the County of Russell and who is also acting as Agent of the "Freedmans Bureau". There were two applications made by the former owner of the mother and children for letters of Indenture under the statute of [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] Alas as you may see by referring to the Case page 268 paragraph 1215 which gives the power to bind out the children of the poor when in the language of the law they (the parents) "are unable to provide for their support" In the 1st case to which I refer the mother was an able bodied hand and was contracted to work for the present year at $60 with 3 lbs of bacon and 1 peck of meal per week and a 1/2 acre of land to intended for her own use. Her husband has contracted for the same time with the same person at $75 with the same rations. These parties have a child (the father being the stepfather) seven years of age. The former owner applyed for letters of Indenture, and the father and mother objected to their being granted upon the ground that 1st by the law of nature they were entitled to the [[proportion?]] of their child in preference to any other party 2nd Their united or single labor was sufficient to support the child. 3rd That if the Child was able to under any service the parent is certainly entitled to it. 3rd That in addition to their own offer to maintain their child, their employer a person of means and responsibility 

Transcription Notes:
Edited: added in missing words and removed archives stamp as per SI instructions