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and put them to [[?]] wheats building [?] he could not nor would not be entitle to a reduction I furthermore told Mr. Cotter that if persons was allowed to keep their Freedman until the crops was entirely gathered after Christmas I knew there was many person that would Keep the negroes fooling about with a remnant of a crop until they either [?] another crop or until they were forced to except of a contract greatly to their injury & with injustice to themselves [?] I further told Mr Cotter that this was the equitable view of the matter taken by anyself before I had any connection with the Beaur. & accordingly had up to that time paid $340.00 for help to have my crop picked out not believing I would have the right to hold my negroes after Christmas to gather my crop. Consequently after Christmas the Freedmen who have worked for Mr Cotter during the year 1865 came to me complaining that Mr Cotter would not pay them for their work & positively refused to do so until they finished gathering the crop I in accordance of my auty sent Mr Cotter a notice saying to him that on a certain day I would make a Settlement between him & his negroes for the work done for him in 1865 and notified him to attend when the day came Mr Cotter came forward & produced a Contract