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This account I get from negroes, who come to me to have their contracts read to them by myself, sometimes before and sometimes after they have signed the agreements.
There is a very large demand for laborers in my two counties; this arrises from the large proportion of the colored people working on their own plan by themselves upon small tracts of land they may be able to live near the water. Here they Oyster and Fish and make barely a living. I have often advised them that they could make more by working for waiges for responsible persons, who are anxious to get labor, but they cannot be pursuaded to go under any restraint.
Very Respectfully
your Obedient Serv't
Henry K.W. Ayres,
Lieut V.R.C. asst Supt &e.