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hire of his wife who at that time was the slave of the said Burnett, when I arrived the justice was just rendering judgement in favor of the Plaintiff and the poor old Colored man was crying, as it would have taken all his corn to pay it. I demurred against proceedings on the plea of its being an Ante-bellum debt, and the bond given by the Old man when yet a Slave and incompetent to contract a debt. I then demanded the cancellation of the bond, and that the Plaintiff in the case go out of court with costs upon his back. The Court, though very loth to do so, were compelled to so decide, many more bonds of the same kind are in existence in this County and poor Colored men have been laboring to pay the interest upon them, semi annually. Here they are in a state of nominal Slavery, but the poor white man is about the same- 

The colored people notwithstanding what they have to contend with are getting along well are industrious and sober. There are no day schools in this County and but two Sunday schools, I attend one each Sunday- There are no temperance organizations in my Div- 

Respectfully Submitted
C G McClelland
Asst Sub Asst Com'r

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-25 15:57:48