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such as that an application to bring free colored labor into the state should in all cases receive the Asst. Comrs approval, in order that only reliable and just persons be so authorized, that in all cases they be persons actually employed in planting, as evidence that they need the labor for their own use, and do not intend to speculate upon it, and that in all cases they be required to contract with the Freemen in their own name, at the point where they procure them, such contracts to be approved by the Asst. Comr of the State. this, alos, to prevent any speculation by those who bring them into the State. I very respectfully make this recommendation, and ask special consideration and a reply.

The duty devolving upon the Bureau to educate the Freedmen, has engage my serious attention, The shcool system established under Genl Gregory's supervision, and the labor of Mr. E.M Whelock, Supt. of Schools for the State, has been vigorous and useful, but owing to the fact that there has thus far been no appropriation for defraying the expenses of schools, they are obliged to establish selfsustaining or pay schools, and thus a large number of colored children are deprived from extreme poverty of school priveleges, This was a necessiry at the time. There was the alternative of such a system or no schools at all, but I hope to make use of the benevolent of religions schools at the North, as to get sufficient help from them to establish freed schools, at least in localities where they can reach those children who are deprived of school children from poverty. I deem it for the practical good of the freedmen of the South, ultimately, that they be required to pay for their own education. and I am please to know that those who are able take quite a privelege in so doing, but the other class must be reached by such benevolent agencies as the Bureau can command.

The public press, and the better class of Citizens generally advocate the education of Freedmen now, as a necessity incident to free labor on the ground that while it was not necessary to educate them as Slaves. when they become free agents a certain amount of education is necessary to make them profitable laborers. I do not think that the motive for educating the freedmen extents beyond this. No encouragement
or support is given to the Bureau or any Northern Missionary effort in this direction, and the convention conceived for the reorganization of the State, under the State of Affairs, inserted the word "white" in their law pertaining to tax for school purposes, and refused to strike it out by a large majority. I regret also to state that it is next to impossible to to maintain schools in those portions of the State where there are not United States troops to protect the Teachers, This is attributed to the vulgar and uncommendable prejudice against educating the negro, which prejudice exists mostly among that class of whites whose own moral and intelectual education has been sadly neglected, a rigerous system os schools should always be kept up, but it is my candid oppinion that the immediate wants of these unfortunate people, in order to give them sufficient education to git them for the new duties and relations under which they have been placed cannot be supplied through the medicine of the Spelling book and reader, as well as by oral instruction and practical education from Teachers. Agents of the Bureau, and other friends, They need to be taught the simplest lesson of practical life, They should be lectured to [[?]] upon their own exertions that their labor is one of their best friends, that their freedom means industry, economy and patience, Their education should influence them to attribute more sacredness to the marriage relation. The domestic relation among them should be more carefully guarded. and the ties of [[consanguinicty?]] made more affectionate, one of the greatest complaints brought against the freedmen by their former masters, and one of the strongest arguments used by them in favor of the race becoming extinct is that they appear to have no family relations manifesting itself in the care of the sick and suffering of their own race, Every candid and intelligent mind must admit that the real reason for this state of affairs and it does exist to a certain extent for it is not inherent but only the result of a system that lacked some of the essential elements of civilization which has blunted the moral and better instincts of the negro, socially and intellectually. Hence, freedom properly taught and moderately used. will restore those great moral qualities which they appear in a measure to have lost. I herewith enclose you Mr Wheelock's last school report which shows a very prosperous and encouraging state of affairs in that Department,

Since writing the above Genls Steadman and Fullerton have visited a portion of the State, and state to me that the cotton crop looks better, and that a large crop will be raised, proportionably to the amount of land under cultivation than in any other state,
My future reports will be more brief and specific than this one. This being my first, I thought it proper to give you general views,

I have the honor to Genl
Very Respectfully. Your Obedt Servt

J.B. Kiddoo
Brvt. Maj. Gen. Asst. Comr.