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contracts; second the tendency that the most of them have to exaggerate, misrepresent and falsify; third the reluctance of a number of employers to pay them just wages as manifested by all sorts of shifts and dodges.
Complaints come to me from all directions of hogs, sheep &c &c being stolen, and, in passing through the county I find these complaints to be well founded. Whenever detected the depredations are punished, but in most cases, they escape, and if the system is carried on much longer as it has been during this month there will be no hogs or sheep left. This stealing is generally attributed to the locating negroes who are beginning to exhaust the little stores of provisions they had earlier in the year, tho I have no doubt but some bad whites are also engaged in it.
During the month I have had no orderly and I find that this want destroys my utility to a very considerable extent. To learn the true state of affairs and to arrange difficulties I am forced to ride a great deal through the county and often to remain away over night. I also have to summon parties to appear at court. During my absence persons come to see me and find my office closed. Of course they must come again or give up the affair that concerns them. To come again for perhaps the second or third time is particularly unfortunate for the Freedmen who thus loses his precious time and has his already too great inclination to wander about increased.
Very respectfully
I am obt Servant
J.W. Sharp
Capt & Asst Supt Freedmen
Dinwiddie Co Va
[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

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