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New Orleans. La
Jan 23rd 1866

Brevet Major General A. Baird Assistant commissioner, Bureau of Ref. Fr. and A.L State of Louisiana.

General
I have the honor to inform you that at Pass Christian, and many points in that vicinity certain restrictions, are imposed upon the Freedmen by their Employers and the local authorities more onerous than those of slavery. For example, no Freedman is permitted to leave his post, nor can he obtain employment without a pass from the local magistrate. I have just examined one of these passes. It appears to require a monthly re-issue to be good, and to subject any Freedman to the caprice, of his employer or of the magistrate, in obtaining any employment at a new post after maltreatment at the old one

I remain General
Very Respectfully
Your Obebdient Servant
I. M. Vandervort