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large and lucrative yield, but again the Caterpillar made its appearance, and its ravages continued while a tender leaf or boll was left to feed upon. Such plants as were too far advanced in growth to be injured by the worms became seriously damaged by the heavy and frequent rains, that fell during the months of August and September, and your petitioners find themselves today with but scanty crops gathered from blighted fields, while they feel the weight of their pecuniary obligations to the Government without any possible means of discharging them. 

Your petitioners submit that is the Bureau insists upon the payment of these Bonds at this time, and proceeds to enforce by execution the liens given to secure them, it can only result in total ruin to the Planter, and will deprive the unfortunate Freedmen of a great proportion, if not all, of his interest in what has been made.

In view therefore of the heavy losses which the planters of the Seaboard have sustained for the past two seasons, and having in mind that these losses proceeded from causes which they were powerless to avert, your petitioners invoke the clemency of the Government, and ask that these Bonds