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of command all the appeiarees of the Bureau, Home Colony, Local Depôt &c, so that all negroes without employment wish  might be speedily disposed of, to avoid their demoralizing influence upon the labored. A plantation might be leased for that purpose in any county, and the gain to government from a good crop of cotton would be more than enough to cover all extra expenses for each superintendency. I think seriously, that all depends for the next year upon such an extension of the military supervision. Whenever I have been able to send guards, the effect has been very salutary, giving satisfaction to both parties. Upon our ability to bring every plantation under the same influence, at short notice, depends, in my best judgement, the welfare of the negroes, the recuperation of the South, and consequently, even during next year, millions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury.

In establishing a Local Depot or camp here there have been the same difficulties to overcome that met me in procuring a Home Colony. All are busily engaged in making the utmost of every item of capital.

Transcription Notes:
3-17-2021: Transcribed per guidelines and marking for review