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Reports the feeling of the people as decidedly antagonistic to the Bureau and especially so since he has determined to establish a school. Has found great difficulty in obtaining board for the female teacher sent him. School will commence on the 19th inst. Freedmen are very faithful to their contracts. Some "starvation" contracts made by his predecessor have been annulled. Freedmen all say that after the present year they will be able to get along without assistance &c. Is subsisting 45 aged people & children Freedmen are he thinks more intelligent than have come under his observation elsewhere. make their own contracts; generally for 1/2 or 1/3 of the crops. Has secured good homes for many of the orphans. Thinks the aid societies will furnish clothing sufficient for the destitute. This "Miss Wood" the teacher, asks for two enlisted men to make arrests. The feeling is so adverse to the school - especially so since the arrest of "Mr Martin". The census is not completed owing to want of men to attend to the various business of the office. In conclusion - the general feeling (over)

of the whites is very disloyal. Say they never will live on term of political equality with the negro. Hope to ultimately regain political power, through the aid of the "northern copperheads" Says his presence is all that prevents the "feeling" from depriving the negroes of their rights and that if an officer of the Bureau were not there, their condition would be worse than that of "slavery itself."

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-21 10:48:40 filled in missing word-"rights" and corrected transcription errors. done reviewing everything seems ok