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THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU
One thing, however, I must add here. Without exception, [[illegible]] and others complain of an injudicious, some times quite [[illegible]] leniency toward offending negroes on the part of those who are now responsible for the [[illegible]] good behavior. This tends to make the [[illegible]] and worse. On every side of me I [[illegible]] negro depredations which pass off unpunished. [[illegible]] in some [[illegible]] the sufferer consents to condone the [[illegible]] guilt; but, to me, the usual motive of this [[illegible]] does not wear a healthy appearance. For example:-

Mr. Wm. J. Dickerson, near this city, was recently the subject of a negro mutiny. He at one time owned over a hundred servants. Before the collapse he worked all who had remained with him of these on a division of [[illegible]] and principle. The negroes were to receive a fourth of the year's produce. They worked. The time of the division came with their liberation, and the division was made under the supervision of a federal officer and in accordance with the stipulations of the previous contract. The officer chosen deemed it just; they did not. However, they took it, or had to take it, as the federal officer was firm in his determination that there was justice for white men against black. So people here talk and think of these things now- black at par, white at a discount. Whether this impression is well based or not I have had yet no distinct personal opportunity of determining; but it exists, and I have good authority for saying with some reason.

Let the sequel of Mr. Dickerson's affair give an insight to the reason. Out of his own inclination Mr. D. allowed a certain house on his property to be occupied by some of his black laborers as a mutual accommodation. Having had occasion to work these men on another farm, he, in the interim, let the house to a white man. But, when the particular negroes returned they claimed this house as their own, and warned the white man to quit or they would burn him out. He feared and fled. It was then rented to another white man. The negroes fancying they had it all their own way warned him too and warned Mr. D. at the same time. No notice was taken of this by Mr. D. or his tenant. The infatuated people, who opposed both, then clubbed together, and wantonly destroyed all their former 
master possessed in sheds, stables, barns and outhouses, all except the house over his head. Not a plough, or piece of harness even, escaped their rage or rapacity. This case of destruction and those who perpetrated it were proved; but the man who had to endure all this was compelled to forego his claim for punishment (compensation being out of the question), since these people were to be left where they were in any event. His life would be worth little if he persevered in what justice should decree; by the removal of the culprits to a remote section of the State he might feel secure, otherwise not at all if he prosecuted them. As of him so of others.

It is strange that while this district was, at no distant day, one which had every reason to boast of the goodly demeanor of its negro population, it is now among the worst affected on the score of negro depravity. Hardly a house can be found in all the county which has not lost whatever was portable about it. Compelled to live some way, the unfortunate negro found no other means, once he deserted his home and honest opportunity, than plunder, and pillage accordingly became the order, or the disorder, of the day. Many of them made enough, by a fair division of produce between them and their employers or masters, to maintain through a year; those decided to engage for another year, having enough that far ahead. As with all of us "sufficient for the day is the evil thereof," so with them, sufficient for the year was the prospect thereof. "None of the forethreatenings of winter could deter those who had hoarded a little from idling, and they did idle and, I see, are idling, to the great distress of all - black and white. Where there is any lack of honest means to live they go and plunder, as they have for months been doing, until at last there is nothing portable left to steal in the whole county. The passing winter has caught many of them surely, and in its adversity may be instrumental in bringing most of them back to a sense of duty. That is hoped rather than confidently expected.

Nothing seems to be more eagerly desired here than a return to industry on the part of all who have a permanent interest in the place. The white people are ready to do their part - as they say, and I believe them. But the black population have no idea of industry in the sense of cumulating interest. They work best by "spirits," and for hand to hand profits. The whites are content to accept the best which has brought freedom to the slave; but the blacks want more than nominal or real freedom - they want equality and idleness.

This is the particular curse which appears to brood generally over all the section of country in which I now am. The stunning blow which in an instant reft the owner of his property in the black man was great, but it was less onerous in its effects than the blow which also had at the same moment left him without commendable labor, left him thus at a juncture the most critical. Of all this, however, more at length anon.

THREE-FOURTHS OF VIRGINIA, UNCULTIVATED.

Transcription Notes:
Removed "[[smudge]]" and replaced with [[?]] as per instructions. I figured out a couple of them. I think the other [[?]] are unreadable, therefore I changed the [[?]] to [[illegible]], so the page can be marked for Review. If another transcriber can decipher the places marked [[illegible]], that would be wonderful. fixed typos 1/31 4:46 pm E: I think that I found the rest of the illegibles, except for the top ones. double checked everything, ready for final review. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-29 18:40:33 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-31 19:16:14