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0871

4

Contracts. 
A large majority in fact nearly all of the freedmen at work upon plantations are hired in a very unsatisfactory manner; at first a very fair contract is drawn up, which in the course of a short time by the wily persuasion of the planter is surrendered on the ground of some technicality and a new and deceptive contract is made out to the determinant of the freedmen. He is charged for breakage, horse hire to and for lost time he is charge more in proportion than he would receive for the period of actual employment. Presents are given to the freedmen to induce them to extra exertions which upon settlement are charged in their accounts. They are also induced to trade out their wages to some merchant who charges them from 50 to 100 percent above the market price for goods furnished; this extra profit is divided with the planters.