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BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
Head Quarters Assistant Sub-Assistant Commissioner,
4th DIVISION—FRANKLIN COUNTY—,

7th SUB-DISTRICT, STATE OF VIRGINIA,
Rocky-Mount, Va., August 31st, 1867.

Bvt. Brig. Genl. O. Brown
Asst. Comr.

General:

Obedient to circular No. 6, Services 1866, Hd Qrs. Asst. Comr. St. of Va., I have the honor to report as follows.

I regret to be obliges to say, that the feeling between the white and colored people in my Division, as political issues obtrude, is daily assuming a more and more complex and uneasy condition. During the month, Union Leagues have been organized amongst the Colored people here. On the 24th, Doctor H. J. Brown- Colored-, authorized by the Congressional Republican Committee- delivered and address, on reconstruction- and on the 24th, a meeting was held in the interests of the Union Republican party. The first measure, with a few receptions, amongst the proven classes of the whites, is almost generally denounced by the whole class; and, of course, their bitterest enmity has been evoked. Again, as it is by no means their policy that the Freedmen should be at all enlightened; especially on such vital points as are now involved; the Doctors speech was naturally most unqualifiedly condemned, and both he and his hearers cordially and equally execrated therefor. I have heard it rumored that the Doctor was shot at twice on his way here, from Salem, Roanoke Co; but of this I have no satisfactory proof. In delivering his speech here, he; through my cooperation, prevailed on the How. Peter Saunders, Sr., late state Senator, to preside over the meeting; and also on two other white persons of the place, to be present with him on the stand. These persons were afterwards very severely censured for having had any connection with the affair.

The meeting of the 24th had been previously called by the Mr Saunders above named, and was for the

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