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0489

Mr. Bradwell, their appointer, is a minister, a person of intelligence, and influence - one of those with whom the Secretary of War had a conference at Savannah and will do, I think, as much as any man can, to bring about an understanding between the freedmen and former owners.

This, at Edisto, will be a difficult task, but one which we shall do our most to accomplish. I learn that the people there are in fear of the white planters, and as much opposed to their return as they were when you were here. The spirit manifested by Mr. Whaley and others is not calculated to increase their confidence. When the former learned that I considered the colored man a "citizen", and did not feel willing without your direction to refuse Mr. Bradwell a sitting with the Board, he became quite violent, declared the Dred Scott decision the law of the land, and said he would rather have his plantation "sunk" than submit to having a black man on the Board. I desired him to put his objections in writing, saying that I would forward them to you, but he declined doing so.

Quite different is the spirit of a Wadmalaw Island planter, who says he has no objection to a colored man serving on the Board with him, and likes the selection