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employee, binding for a year. In no case could I learn that a white man had witnessed the contract.

You will notice among the complaints of the planters, that of the encroachments of military upon civil law. With this, I have nothing to do, except to state the fact that loyal white men call for assistance to preserve their lives; and it is my belief that unless something is done to secure justice to the colored people in the counties referred to, they will take the law into their own hands, as the only means to protect themselves.

I wish also to call your attention to the large number of freedmen, made to by the operation of President Lincolns proclamation respecting slaves enlisted into our army. They have strong claims upon the Government for protection. They now have to endure peculiar hardships from the prejudice existing in the minds of the people against those who have been in the Union Army, or who now have husbands, fathers, or brothers, there.

Many old and infirm people have been driven away by their former masters - not being even awarded the care & protection given by a human master to a faithful horse.