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so anxious and not receiving encouragement from any source whatever materially this far; I have been importuned by them for favors ideas,  advice for a better letter reader & writer for them ever since the surrender and have promised them, that if possible I would start a school for their benefit. by next Nov. 15th or Dec. 1st. This has been a standing promise for months, In March I made my first application to Judge Underwood ( who is my native countryman) for instructions as to how to proceed, to bring about the desired result; also held correspondence with other parties, some favorably inclined, others averse to educating the race; but I have still kept the object in full view, being hopeful of finally succeeding, and Sir: We are agoing to have the school. although there is not another white man (except one) in this vicinity who will encourage it by word on means and he dont speak above a whisper:
My reasoning is: that as they are citizens. they cannot be elected to be good ones without education. I think that putting books into their hands, will force upon their habit of thought and compel them to industriously use their leisure moments, will make them generally industrious: and so great is my faith or conviction. that if I was able I would make a fee school for there support if wholly. Their great anxiety , coupled with my convictions of the necessity of the school. compels me to say that we must have the school: It is a private, social and political necessity of the times. As the power creating the citizen made some provisions for him, we feel that we have some claims upon the Bureau in common with the map, + we cannot quietly renounce all claims, that the residents of cities may receive the portion due us. order not like to be forbidden any share because we remain in the country. cities are already overcrowded by persons from the country who have gone there to get