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good feeling prevailed throughout Election Day at the Polls, and nothing of a serious nature occurred to interrupt or mar the proceedings; the Freedmen voting their ticket "en masse," and with but one or two exceptions, allowing no inducement to swerve them from their set purpose. It was a noticeable fact that the actions of the Freedmen during the day were characterized by a respectful and courteous demeanor, and a modest retirement from all assemblages that could possibly be construed unto boisterous or unlawful congregations; nor did they in any manner conduct themselves that would be prejudicial to good order, or detrimental to the dignity of the Commonwealth.

The Freedmen are very derelict in their duty regarding the erection of School Houses in this vicinity, not having taken any other action than was communicated in my previous Reports, and all attempts have failed to bring them to a realizing sense of the importance of this subject; they do not seem to have a full appreciation or a proper estimation of the great good that will eventually result from the undertaking.

The Whites are somewhat reprehensible in their conduct towards the Freedmen, regarding Contracts; as most of them are mere verbal agreements the ignorance

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-21 12:55:58