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Moulton Ala Lawrence Co
Jany 15. 1868

Capt. S. C. Green,

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

Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular of December 29, 1867 and now undertake to give you my views as best I can upon the matters in question.

Our country produced in the year 1867 a sufficiency of corn to supply the entire population with bread during this year if properly distributed, but there will be some indigent persons who will require aid but I think the larger number of these will be provided for by our comity,— Bacon & other necessaries are & will be in demand greatly in excess of the supply yet with the usual effort on the part of the more dependent I cannot anticipate any considerable destitution.

Many planters who engaged in the culture of cotton last year owing to the decline in that article will not be able to employ laborers on so extensive a scale owing to losses sustained but I think the disposition on the part of laborers to get employment is fully met by the demand yet the freed people are less eager to make contracts than heretofore, most of them who worked last year have corn enough for this year, and are not inclined to yield to the wish of employers for a reduction in wages & desire to contract for portion of crop which will be acceded to

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