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letter to citizens of Roanoke county.

The restlessness of the negro has in a great measure quieted down. It became my duty to protect him in his rights. As it was in the first case clearly to teach him his responsibilities, I encouraged the negroes to come and see me and converse very freely with them as to their rights and duties. These interviews seemed to be satisfactory to the negroes and were entirely so to me for they proved to me that those at least who I saw were capable of taking care of themselves and of improving their condition, and I hoped for good results from their influences among their friends, and I have not been disappointed.

I do not know precisely the nature of the representations that have been made of my administration of affairs here nor of the feelings and disposition of the people of my District, but I believe them to be acting in good faith and actively willing to accept all of the laws and Proclamations in regard to slavery. They regard the institution as dead and not to be ressusitated, and honestly think