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important to themselves of being industrious, peaceable &c 

Notwithstanding all these facts, I have not heard of a single instance, wherein a laborer has been discharged because of his absenting himself to attend political meetings, neither have I heard of any cases in which any threats to that effect, have been made by the Employer. This opinion generally entertained by the reflecting freedmen, is, that the property held by their employers, has been forfeited to the Government, by the treason of its owners, and it is liable to be confiscated whenever Congress demands it, and while the majority in the present Congress are opposed to general confiscation, yet if the owners of the property use the power which it gives them, to make political slaves of the poor, the result will be unity of action on the part of Congress toward confiscation-  But while this opinion is general among the more intelligent class, those upon whom the agricultural operations depend, are seized with the idea, that indiscriminate confiscation, will be enforced soon, & the plantations of their old masters divided & distributed to their old slaves, by reason of which fact they become disatisfied with their contracts, neglect their

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-13 10:54:22