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plunged the state into the vortex of secession, which proved, so far as the south was concerned, to be the wealthy man's war and the poor mans fight. These same men are making use of every means which the most malicious fiendish species of mankind could possibly invent, aided by a set of ignorant fondling sycophants, whose sentiments extend no farther than "what I eat and drink is my own" and do everything else politically, moraly, and socially at the behest of "Mr Col. Taylor, Mr Dr Stewart" or "Mr Capt Bailey Jett Esq" and few other of those titled individuals to prevent a free expression at the ballot box, and many of them openly assert that they are now contending for and determined to gain by the ballot what they lost by the sword that the U. S. Govt. must succumb, that "Southern 'intellect' must shape the nations future." 

Their denunciations upon the freedmen for adhering to their political sentiments and upon me for defending them in holding political meetings are very, bitter loud and deep on the 19th of May a meeting of the Colored Repulicans was held at Common in this County and adressed very ably by a Colored Speaker, Mr Henry Seldon, of Westmoreland Co, the speaker was interrupted somewhat by the rebel element present and I called them to order and told them when the speaker got through

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-25 15:46:56