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him from the contract, and [[strikethrough]]prommissed[[/strikethrough]] promised to recompense him for his labor. I have required the employer to settle at once, and secure the laborer for services rendered regardless to the contract. A few days since a contract was brought to my office for file, the freedmen were bound in close terms stipulated that they should furnish their own provisions and described how the crop should be tended, and any violation on the part of the freedmen, they should forfeit fourfold  The freedmen have been working on this contract since 25th December 1866. I told the employer that the contract was null and void, and that if he would satisfy the freedmen for the years work, it would be sufficient, and if not, I would sue him before a U. S. Commissioner, the contract would be ruled out of court and he would be made to pay the men for their services. It seems impossible for the people of this country to understand the rights which belong to a freemen when a laborer, and most of men seem determined to know a laborer only as a slave, this assertion was dearly proved on the 13th May at a political meeting at this place, when many employers expressed their surprise, and indignation at the idea of a laborer attending a public meeting, without the free-will and consent of the employer, while on the other hand the freedpeople feel that they monopolize the labor and must control the same. There was an effort made some time ago by some freedmen to strike for high wages, and demand exorbitant prices during wheat harvest, some farmers apprehended difficulty