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6

"Report the disposition and feeling of the white people towards the freed people as expressed by words and actions."

They [[underlined]] are[[underlined]] not [[underlined]] honest[[underlined]]. Openly they make all manner of protestations, of kindly feeling, very anxious to observe all the orders eminating (emanating) from the Bureau. I regret to say with very few exception the feeling towards the freedmen is a bitter one, but for the consequences, it would evince itself.

EDUCATION.

"Report the feeling upon the subject of education; what steps have been taken to promote the same; what efforts the freed people are making in that direction and in what manner they may be assisted, [[?]], [[?]]."

 The white people as a general thing are opposed to the education of the freedmen, and are doing (secretly) all in their power to counteract my efforts.

The freedmen themselves, show no special desire to send their children to school. Their heart is not in the matter. I account for this in three ways. First: What is told them (secretly) of the non-importance. Second: The failure of the entire crop has disheartened them. Third: The negro preachers, of which I have in this District, nine or ten, [[underlined]]not [[underlined]] one [[underlined]] of whom can [[underlined]] read [[underlined]] or [[underlined]] write [[underlined]] they are fearful if the people learn to read & write, they will find out what nonsense has been preached to them as religion. I am informed that they (the preachers) have advised their congregations not to spend their money for schools, but to give it to the church.

A donation of a lot (One Acre) was made by Mr. James Wrigley to the Bureau for freedmen school purposes -

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 08:10:47