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0660

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

Athens Limestone Co
Jan. 8 1868

Capt S.C. Green

Sir

Your circular inquiring as to the condition of laborers in my County has been received.

After considerable inquiry, I have learned that there are a great many colored laborers in this County still without employment. Some of the land holders who were able after the general failure owing to the sudden decline in the value of cotton, have undertaken to farm this year, but the demand for labor is not half as great as last year. Those who have concluded to plant are giving very low prices for hands - in some instances nothing but food and clothing, in others as much as one fourth of the crop.

The negroes without employment are in a very destitute condition. The proceeds of their crop last year has been consumed in advances by the employer, and they find themselves, although paid good wages, or working for a large portion of the crop in the shares in a bad condition as the [[farmer? former?]]. The white people are willing as far as they can to aid the negroes, but many of them are bound to suffer unless they receive advances in their 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-09 13:04:30