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Office, Asst Supt. R.F. & A.L.
Talladega, Ala. July 1866.

Major!

I have the honor to report, that I have visited several large Plantations in this District, in order to see, how the the Freedmen are getting on. Comparatively find complaints are made at present by either Freedmen or Employers; but the Freedmen in general have no confidence, that the white people will deal justly with them in the settlement of their contracts not Fall, and I anticipate considerable trouble from that source, which may in many instances be caused by the innocence and inexperience in business-matters on the part of Freedmen; many of whom have contracted with white men, who are poor themselves, and will hardly raise enough on their small farms to maintain their own families.

Several Planters (neighbors) employing between them 240 Freedmen with about 150 children give me the promise, that they would assist their laborers in the establishment of a school; and I think by next winter a second school will be in operation in this County. The school at this place is at present conducted by a Freedmen.

The Probate Court was in Session this week, trying under the new Code of Laws some cases, which had been referred by me to that Tribunal.- In all these cases white men were charged with ill treatment of Freedmen; jugement was in each case rendered against the offender, who was punished by