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will lead to nothing but their destruction. I enclose a copy of an order issued by me, which is certainly as strong as any man dare issue, who admits that the negro is free.

[[left margin]] Reasons for this hostility to the Bureau [[/left margin]]

People who talk as much of insurrection and idleness, and vagrancy among the freedmen, have an ulterior motive. They know that if they admit that the Freedmen's Bureau has a single virtue, it would endanger the prospect of a total removal of federal authority from this state. If they can once get free of all control, they know they can do as they please with the negro. No man can take the position of Assistant Commissioner for this State or any other one, and so conduct Freedmen affairs as to meet the approbation of the white citizens. The abilities, virtues and powers of a Lincoln would be unequal to the task.
The simple truth is, that the Bureau is antagonistic to what the white people believe