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unless some provision is made by the State Legislature the assistance of the Bureau will be required for a long time to prevent suffering and starvation. Could a plan be adopted by which the Civil Authorities and the Bureau could co-operate in making provision for the support of the destitute it might be a saving of expense to the Bureau and at the same time be a step in preparing the way for the entire withdrawal of the Bureau, without serious detriment to the Freedmen. To remove the Bureau under the existing state of affairs would leave the Freedpeople wholly unprotected in their rights and interests and at the mercy of a class of men who regard them as having no rights and only fit for slaves and for whom the public is under no obligations to provide support. 
I am General 
Vry Respectfully
Your Obt servt
Wm P. Austin
Capt A.A.Q.M & Supt 1st Dist of Va. 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-10 11:22:56