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an agent of the Freedmans Bureau being here in time For last year it is now too late, and for this year it is also too late, as far as contracting is concerned - 

The evil of having had no agent here to protect the negroes has worked its own cure in this.  That the negroes finding no protection here, so many of them went elsewhere (in which probably many of them fared worse) that a scarcity of negroes was the consequence, and competition for the negroes remaining was the natural consequence.

I do not think this good policy on the part of the US Government.  The negro is getting along pretty well here now, but does not see who is his friend.  It is true all this is owing to the power of the United States, but the negroes do not see it.  There is no representation here of the US Government save the Tax officers - the flag of the US is not in our county, and it would I believe be considered a piece of impertinence to hoist one if we had it - I know that all this is owing to the exceeding solicitude on the part of the Government - to avoid expense

But I believe there is such a thing as riding an idea to death.  The Government seems to us Union men to have passed an act of oblivion to all their enemies and unfortunately also to their friends.  Consequently the Union party are very quiet and somewhat subtly.

There is no chance of their ever joining in acts or feelings with the Secessionists.  But they will in future be very much inclined to let the United States and the Rebels quarrel as they may.  We shall be merely "lookers on in Venice" - All the main rebels in Texas have gotten, and openly parade their pardons, and are rebels still.  Of what is the benefit of our contending against the secessionists, if the United States government merely is a looker on, and see us overborn browbeaten and insulted without the least emotion - 

This is getting to be the feeling here, and I am very sure