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furnish house, land, clothing, or implements of labor; beggars need something more than food.

But many, I think most, of these indigents will refuse to return; they dread, sometimes with reason, the treatment they will receive; some will remain from obstinacy or stupidity. Shall they be forced away?

If not, some anticipatory provision should be made; enough land should be retained, wherein to locate them. The Denney farm is the fittest place for them, and might it not be rented for another year?

Elizabeth City and York contain together about fifteen thousand (15000) souls; two thirds of these are living on formerly abandoned, but now restored lands; not over one half are paying rent, and are notified to, and, suppose, must vacate these lands at the end of the year 1866.

This will, for the time being, greatly increase destitution, but result in getting many into the back counties, and in much reducing the press of population. Under the fear of this, many can be prevailed upon to go North or elsewhere before that time.

I think it right to get as many as possible into a land of liberty. Those that go into the interior will not get such treatment as resident negroes, and such as freemen deserve; hence I consider