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freed people; while it is presumed that no less than five hundred (500) have immigrated, without assistance from the Government. This latter decrease in population is however; believed to be balanced by those who have come into the County from other localities.

The positive reduction in population for the current year may be put down at sixteen hundred (1600.) One of the greatest obstacles in the way of inducing the freedpeople to seek homes and employment elsewhere, has been the occupation by them of land, free of rent. Many who might be well provided for in other localities refuse to go for the simple reason that they have land to live on which costs them nothing. The great majority of grants of that nature expire however January 1st 1867 and it is proposed to enforce payment of rent from all, excepting those who may be wholly unable to provide for themselves. It is believed that this course, without entailing unnecessary hardship will tend in a great measure to induce that class of idle and useless dependents with which the County is now over-run, to seek homes and accept employment elsewhere. 

In certain instances, where the freed-people have acquiesced in the demands of the land owners, and have prepared to vacate their lots, the latter have attempted to seize the tenements of the former, under the plea that the law empowers the owner of the land to retain all improvements placed upon the land during its occupation by the lessee.

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-10 14:32:27 minor typo