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as I have said, many of the civil officers, while saying but little, indicate in many ways their full belief in the old Southern idea that every man from south of Mason's and Dixon's line, has a natural and inalienable right to be supported by the Genl, Government. Hoping to receive their share in the salaried offices of the Government, they are willing and anxious that their poorer neighbors should receive their government tax condensed in pork and corn.

The third class I have mentioned, having few opinions on any subject, save that a full stomach is a good thing, its reverse unpleasant, and that the Yankees are fiends, but little expression on anything so abstract as the subject of my mission could be obtained from them.

From my observations breifly recorded above, I am convinced.

That there has not been a single case of starvation in either state. (See Enclosures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.)

That the amount of destitution has been largely exaggerated, and the officers of the Bureau, few, scattered, and so located as to be in many cases unable to visit the interior, grossly deceived in reference thereto. (See Enclosures 15 and 16.)

That although some destitution exists, and has existed, it is not absolute but consists mainly in confinement to some one or few articles of food, of which in nearly all cases, there has been a sufficiency, and that it is ascribable in great part to the idleness of the people. (See Enclosures, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14.)

That the issue of rations, as at present conducted, is producing great demoralization and idleness among the people,