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with each other, or receive word from those who would employ them.

Travel is almost wholly from here outwards, which increases the difficulty. In short, the great mass of Freedmen on the lower Peninsula cannot be reached by letters, and hence are almost entirely without means of getting the information required.

The egress of freedpeople, now at its climax, at the rate of 250 per month, at the season when everyone is finding his work for the year, will, so long as the provisions of Cir. No 1. C. S. from the Office of the Commissioner are strictly complied with, receive a severe and most unfortunate check.

I earnestly beg that the beneficial and prosperous outflow of people from this overcrowded and distressed locality be suffered to continue, and that in order to this, the requirements of said circular be not insisted upon as to giving exact information as to name and residence of employer; but that the careful scrutiny of applicants, and approval on the part of the Officers of the Bureau at this point, be received as sufficient ground for granting requests of extremely destitute freedpeople for transportation elsewhere.

I have the honor to be, General,
Very Respectfully

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-19 18:44:57