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partner with him to a contract, and the Freedman, conscious that no further service was "due" from him, and wishing to satisfy himself that he was really free, by exercising his liberty to leave his old master.-

Eighty five thousand six hundred and forty seven acres of land were held in the state, exclusive of that [[strikethrough]] held [[/strikethrough]] in the counties of Loudon and Fairfax, for the benefit of the Freedmen. Some of these lands were worked by them on shares, some by Government, the Freedmen being paid wages; some were rented to them; some were occupied as homes for those who were unable to pay rent or to support themselves; while others, on account of their location, were unoccupied.-

The problem to be solved was how to provide for the protections, government and elevation of nearly half a million of people, suddenly freed from the bonds of a rigorous control, acquainted with no law but that of force, ignorant of the elementary principles of civil government

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-15 10:21:53 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-15 10:33:08