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to depress him and keep him down by rendering almost impossible the accumulation of property, or the realization of any of those benefits of material condition which freedom ought to bring them. This rule is, low wages and oppressive taxes, enforced against the colored man with rigid severity, while, so far as the experience of this office goes, no single measure has been devised or undertaken for their benefit or elevation. The poor law and all other ameliorating laws (if there be any) are never construed to help the black man, and his only shield support or protection to-day springs from the institutions of the General Government. The tax-law directs the employer to collect the taxes of employees and is studied by the officials charged with its execution, so that no possible chance whereby money can be got from the colored man shall be lost. This law led to practices, also plainly illegal; such as that of collecting taxes from colored hands on steamboats on each trip, and the practice of planters of charging tax for every hand  they hire during the year. The apprentice law is taken advantage of where it can be used to control refractory or discontented apprentices, but it is doubtful whether it has been an advantage to a single colored child. It is also doubtful whether Probate Judges have been much governed by G.O. No. 3 from Hd. Qrs. District of Alabama, or whether they have taken any action under it except when ordered in special cases. Indeed, even in these cases action has not always been willing and prompt, and, in one case, referred to the Asst.