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3rd

of nearly fifty dollars pr. head pr annum to support them, or it would give to each two white citizens one indigent Freedman to provide for - Our County taxes are nearly four thousand dollars, exclusive of our state, and U.S. taxes.  We have neither Court House, nor Clerks office, nor Jail. It will require about twelve to fifteen thousand dollars to replace these county buildings destroyed in Dec 1863, by an explosion whilst Gen'l Wistar was in command at Yorktown, imposing another capitation tax of nearly twenty five dollars pr head on each white citizen. Besides I have an opportunity of knowing the condition of the citizens of this portion of the Peninsula, and it is true they are in a more destitute condition, than they have been since 1863, with gloomy prospects in the future brought about in part from the failure of the crops the present year. So you must perceive, and I know it accords with your knowledge of the facts, that it would be impossible for the Civil Authorities in York Warrick or Elizabeth City County, or the City of Wmsburg to provide for this large proportion of indigent poor. I think I represent the sentiment of not only my own County people, but the sentiment of every County from Charles City to Fortress Monroe, embraced in the 9th Senatorial District, which I have the honor to represent in the Senate of Virginia, that the respective counties would take charge of and support the destitute Freedmen legitimately belonging to, or living in each County, or in other words the indigent native Freedmen belonging to, or living in each County. Another fact which is known to you we have not taxed the Freedmen to defray the expenses of the

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-19 21:25:00