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And Whereas by the more recent Act of Congress passed March 2nd 1867, and the acts suplementary thereto, and better known as the Military Bill, passed for the better govering of the recent Rebel States.  The Franchise priviledge is guarenteed to all regardless of race or color or former conditions, except to those especially mentioned in said Bill, that under said bill we believe the inalienable right of free speech and public meetings is accorded to us as well as the right to meet and organize political clubs.

And Finally we believe it to be the duty of the Officer in charge of the Bureau in each Parish to extend to us all protection in his power, and to listen to our complaints as well as to those of our enemies, for such we now have to consider most of our employers.  And Whereas, in the person of Brevet Major L.G. Willowes, Sub Com and Agent of the Bureau Refugees, Freedmen & A.B.L. we find one who has wholly failed to protect us either in our persons or property - one who has invariably turned a deaf year to our complaints, but has listened to the tales of our enemies.  He has see our wrongs and grieviances go unredressed.  He has on several occasions advised our race to let acts of grieviances rest, by telling us they, your aggressors, "are white, have plenty of money and can easily pay out," on other occasions he has told us he could do nothing for us and will inquire into it, and there the matter would rest.

He has forced us to stand by our contracts but has repeatedly allowed many planters to violate