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To the Chief of the Freedmens Bureau for Virginia.

We the undersigned citizens of Mecklenburg County claim to be loyal to the United States and as such solicit that protection which the Government guarantees to all its citizens.

We recognize as an institution of the Government the Freedmens Bureau, admit its necessity and are willing to yield with cheerful submission to its decisions when they are made in a spirit of justice to all parties.  At the same time we respectfully ask to submit to your consideration the following grievances.  We hold in our hands evidence of the fact that the Agent of the Bureau for the County has been guilty of the following misconduct.

He has decided matters of controversy in favor of the freedmen without giving the white man a hearing, or even summoning him to appear.

He has given certificates to freedmen to set up dram shops contrary to the license laws of the State, and to their great demoralization.

He has been rude and insulting to ladies as well as gentlemen whom he has had summoned before him.

So universally has he decided in favor of the freedmen that we know of an instance in which a freedman has actually gone to a white mans house, taunted him with insult till he drew from the white man a blow and then turned off with the boast that he had accomplished his object-  that the white man should pay dearly for it.

You can well imagine the result of this state of things.   The freeman thinking that for whatever he does he will find an apologist in the Agent is perpetuating all kinds of misdemeanors,

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