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It was not wise or politic for our Legislature ever to have touched this subject (apprenticing orphans), any legislation on that score, under present circumstances by us is dangerous, and I do think is exceedingly simple for any man to attempt to bind in any way a minor of color and my opinion in public as well as private has been let them alone & hire them by the year.

I leave the matter such with you, I should write no more letters & have advised the parties also to drop it, if the present appeal fails. I may have in this letter repeated what I said in a former letter & if you are disposed to have an investigation of the matter, all parties (that is myself & freedmen) are perfectly willing: I only ask that I be not required to ride to Linden or Demopolis, for I am in feeble health &c.

Respectfully,
J. P. Slater