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Perote Bullock Co
Oct the 1867

Genl Swaine
Sir
Certain freed persons of color of this vicinity at the close of last year hiered their services to a certain man of this neighborhood for twelve months and believing him to be an honest man their agreement was only verbal neither party desiring more, he promising to give them what their labor was worth whenever they were dismissed. But having recently ascertained that he intends to dismiss them at [[crossed-out]] them at [[/crossed-out]] the end of the year without paying them anything commensurate with their services. They have applyed to me their former owner to see them righted, and as I see their unprotected situation, two of them being widows one having lost her husband in the Union Army. I concluded to do what I could for them, and as I am desirerous of seeing justice done & believing the minds of some of our Justice of Peace to be biased, I decided to write you to know whether their is an order requiring all persons who have hands employed without written contract to pay them the highest wages given in the country? and if so, is it still in force! Please give me positive instructions how best to proceed with least expense to the complainants as they are too needy to prosicute a costly quit. and for other reasons to wit that the positive orders of Genl Swaine cuts the cowardly swindler to the quick and coming two at this particular time would have a santary effect through out this community. I think your order requiring him to pay them what military orders and justice demands all that is necessary to cause him to settle right. 
I am Respectfully yours C. W. Rumph