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Office Sub Asst. Com'r RF & AL
Waco Texas Feb 20th 1867

Lieut J.T. Kirkman U.S.A.
A.A.A. Gen Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Galveston Texas

Lieut
I have the honor to respectfully request instructions in the following cases. four fiths of the Freedmen who have cultivated land during the year of 1866 for a portion of the crop are now receiving their portion and are desirous of putting the same in market. Waco being a poor market for cotton the most express a desire to ship but the Planter in a great many instances refuse to let them move their cotton until they have been paid for the money advanced to said Freedmen to enable them to cultivate their crop successfully, and There fore they have to sell their crop at a sacrifice here at Waco. I contend that they have a perfect right to ship their cotton if they desire to do so. there is not a planter in this country who has disposed of his cotton here, for the reason that I could realise more by sending it below and I think that the freedmen ought to have the same privilege - please instruct me in this matter.

I am Lieut
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servt
A. F. Manning VRC