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2nd
W34 Vol 3 RF&AL 1866

The colored people here held a public meeting a few evenings since and unanimously agreed to request me to send a petition to Genl. Howard , on their behalf, asking him to authorize them to elect an officer here of their own number, to levy a tax upon them, sufficient to erect an orphan's home, where colored orphans and sick & destitute, as well as aged & infirm people can be sheltered & provided for, and allowed to attend school, while there is an opportunity for doing so. They say they would rather take up arms and die, than that they or their children, or orphans of their race shall be bound again to those who were recently their masters. Please reply to their request as soon as possible: for they are quite uneasy.

Transcription Notes:
2-21-2021: Transcribed per guidelines and marking for review