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this could only be done wisely through some system which could avail itself of persons of neighborhood reputation and acquaintance.

To provide this, a commissioner was sometime since authorized by the Legislature and appointed by the Governor to distribute such supplies as were received from the Government or could be purchased with State bonds.

A system was set on foot by which so far as such a system could be carried out, each justice of the peace in the State prepared a list of persons in his beat to whom supplies were indispensable. Each of the parties on this list made oath to his condition, embracing various particulars. These lists were then consolidated and reduced by the County Commissioners and Probate Judge[[strikethrough]]s[[/strikethrough]], by whom an Agent was appointed who should once a month draw on a provision return signed by an officer of the Bureau, the number of rations allotted to the County, and issue them as best he could to the persons on the list. The circulars embodying this system are transmitted to you herewith.

The allotment above referred to was made by the Governor, the Commissioner, and myself, in council, dividing, according to the best information we could get, such an aggregate daily