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0941

15

the same local prejudices and interests in business will influence them to as great an extent as it does & this they naturally feel that their only dependence is on the officers who are entirely independent of local influence, and who they know are their friend; and they say as they feel, that if, with officers who are appointed at Washington, with no local prejudices whatever, they can barely get justice, "how can we hope when they are removed to obtain the slightest recognition of our rights from those who if no influence was felt, would claim us as their chattels".

That the view they have thus taken is well formed there can be no doubt. The evident design to defraud the freedmen of their hard earned due, in very many cases, cannot be disputed. The amounts, tho' generally small, are nevertheless of great consequence to destitute families, and without some officer, whose special duty it will be to attend to this class of