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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office Ass't Sup't Sub-Dis't of Chesterfield County.
Manchester, Va., May 31st 1866.

H. S. Merrell,
Sup't 3rd Dist. Va.

Sir:

I have the honor to submit the following Report upon the condition of Bureau affairs in the County of Chesterfield for the month of May, 1866.
 
There seems to be an almost universal feeling against the equality before the law of Whites & Negroes. The latter are able to live generally on good terms with the former by yielding a sycophantic, slavish obedience, such as they were compelled to do in their former condition. When they attempt to assert their rights as free men, they are considered "impudent" & are oftentimes discharged from their positions & thrown entirely out of employment.
 
I am happy to say that I think the freedmen are disposed quite generally to labor & earn an honest livelihood. I often hear those from the country say that if the Gov't will help them through this year, until they get their crops, they will ask no further assistance. There are, however, a considerable number of worthless colored people, especially in Manchester, who prefer to live "from hand to mouth," or simply work enough to keep alive, rather than labor industriously & support themselves respectably. Such people do much to prejudice the whites against all free negroes, thereby injuring themselves & involving those well-disposed.

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