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U1

Office of U.S. Direct Tax Commissioner,
DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA,
Alexandria Oct 9th 1865

Gen Howard

I fully concur in the letter of Judge Underwood

The desire of the Freedmen to obtain small tracts of land is almost universal, which could it be gratified would tend more to their elevation than almost any thing that could be done

The revocation of the order suspending our sales would do some thing that way and would materially benefit them even if they did not become purchasers, by puting the land in the hands of active men who would give employment

Besides it appears to me that this undue tenderness towards dormant capital and large landholders while taxing the energies of the country so