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Mr. S. H. Melcher who was formerly our Agent at La Grange writes me that, "Three years ago the freedmen were in better condition than last year; better last year than this; better this than they will be next, why? Our reason is they cannot collect their claims if contested by the whites and they are cheated and swindled on every hand, and as a matter of course they have grown poorer and poorer as the protecting hand of the Government has been withdrawn. The laws are not enforced except against them. Mr. Melcher gives it as his opinion that the result of this injustice and illtreatement will be that the Colored people will be driven to stealing for the purpose of keeping soul and body together. That at the present time there is more or less pilfering and stealing of stock being carried on by the Colored people of his neighborhood. He also adds "The past season planting operations have not resulted pecunarialy to the benefit of the freedmen and hardly any will have any provisions for the coming year. Many will be destitute at the beginning of the year, and you may look for a harder year for the freedmen