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Evergreen, Ala
Jany 30 '67

Genl. Wager Swayne
Montgomery, Ala.

Dear Sir, I would like to know whether the rules & regulations of your "Bureau" allow negroes, without written contract, and without visible means of support, to settle down any where, either off to themselves as under pretense of a verbal Contract, will work him as long as he can
make him profitable & then dispose of him without compensation for what he has done. This thing is being done largely & by a class of
white men far more destitute of principle than the poor ignorant negro. It is almost impossible to induce the negro to work on plantations
where their labor would be profitable alike to themselves & their employers. Please inform me whether the contract system is dispensed with in Ala. I learn from the newspapers that an order to that effect was issued by the Superintdt. in Texas but was revoked by the President.

Very Respectfully
Wm Cunningham