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Troy, Pike Co. Ala.
June 20th 1866

[[stamp]] The National Archives of the United States [[/stamp]]

Maj. Gen. Swayne,
My Dear Sir: - I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 14th inst. in relation to the educational intent of the freedmen of Alabama. In reply, I beg leave to assure you, that no one feels more sensibly than I do the great importance of elevating the condition of the poor negro in the scale of social existence. Without their education, it were idle to talk of advancing them morally or socially. 
You ask my co-operation together with other good citizens in building up schools, especially for the young - I will fully cooperate with you - heartily cooperate with you in your efforts to educate the young negro - it ought to be done - and, in my opinion, will be done sooner or later -
With regard to your plans as gleaned from your letter, I do not know that I entirely agree with you - If you contemplate building up schools for the benefit of both poor blacks & poor whites, then, in this we cannot agree - this community would scout the very idea of such a "mixed" school - We are not yet awhile ready to witness such things in the South - & I pray God we may never see here. such steps taken in the direction of social equality. But, I do not understand that your efforts to educate the negro necessarilly involves this idea.