Viewing page 92 of 134

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

State of South Carolina.
Executive Department.
Columbia, October 16th 1868.

Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard,
Commissioner,

General,
I have called upon by Wm. Whaley Esq. and other planters on the Sea Islands, and presented with the petition herewith forwarded, which gives substantially the unfortunate facts as to the condition of planters in that locality. Much as I regret the necessity of asking your favorable consideration of their petition, yet I feel that humanity demands that I should urge upon you the propriety of deferring the payment of the Bonds until next year. And in this connection I would further suggest that whatever you may do for the petitioners it be clearly understood that none be relieved but those who have been injured by the caterpillar, and then only those whose crops have been distroyed. This distruction is wholly confined to the seaboard, all other sections of the State have made a fair crop and