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Austin Tex April 14 1867.

Respectfully to the Secritary of War. 
dear sir. I Will Lay before you tho the woes of My people the rebels has threatened. and done. They Say god damn the Radicals. They May Send their Military Laws but they will bury your bureaus. and if they Cannot. they will Take your freedmen's wives they will bring the Race. to the dogs Saying there is No Law to hurt them without they Can Catch them in bed with them. I will ask you Sir - is that the united States Constitution: it is the Case Sir - they have the freedmen's wives in house. with them they drove the husbands off and living with their wives, the [[?]] of bigamy. I wrote to Gen. Howard. and others. and received No ans. This is the Manner poor Men is treated. who. went with you. Shoulder to Shoulder in the hardest of your Strougles. driven from their families to pleasure Conservatives and No defense. your bureau Says go to the Civil authorities and give the rebel power.to. Take the wife by force. and drive the husband away the rebel Told the husband. I will hire hired then your wife Sir. and if I hire her. you Shall Not Come on My premises to See her. this was Spoken in presence of the bureau. and he Sanctioned Saying if you go out there I will put you in Jail. he also had demanded. [[?]] the writings of the Contracts. the

Transcription Notes:
ink smears; difficult to tell words and/or possible strikethroughs Edited. Looks as good as it is going to get.