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know a lawyer who I believe would in open court plead the case of a freedman who might be his client as he would for a white man. -  That this people are not paid properly for their labors and that popular sentiment (which is beyond all question of doubt against the blackman) will not allow him equal justice in the courts - makes it evident and actually necessary that the freedman's Court should be again opened.

In no place that I have been in Virginia have I seen so much earnest energy, & industry manifest on the part of the freedmen - and yet they are not paid anything like the price they were hired for by their masters when they were slaves - and I am sorry to say that in many instances when they contract for the year at forty percent less than they were hired for in slavery - at the end of the year they are not paid at all.

if the Govmt desires to make these people of benefit to the country - they must see that they are paid for their labor.
I am Capt.
(over)

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-09 19:37:40