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The laws of the state refuse to allow a negro to hold land, and the whites refuse to sign any bonds for them. The working of the system is evident. When the Mayor and Councilmen were remonstrated with about this singular mode of crushing out the Freedmen, they admitted that they desired the Freedmen to hire themselves to white men to do this kind of work or else leave the city. [[strikethrough]] The services of the citizn is here well seen. [[/strikethrough]]

When I assumed the duties of Assistant Commissioner, the Freedmen Camps at Davis' Bend, Pawpaw Island, Island 98, and Island 102., were carrying on wood cutting under the charge of Lieut D.M. Dick, A.A.Q.M. This work was started by the Superintendent of Freedmen after the surrender of this city, for the purpose of furnishing employment for the thousands of helpless people thrown upon the hands of Government officers. The islands were chosen as the localities for these camps, because they were safe from rebel incursions, were accessible to [[strikethrough]] all [[/strikethrough]] steamboats at all stages of water, both for taking on the wood necessary for their use and for putting of the rations