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to know, when law had to be resorted to I have always defended the Freedmen when in the right, the courts of this county seem more disposed to do justice by the colored people than ever before.
Julian Mason Esq of this County a prominent politician of the Conservative School has for some time past been haranguing the people urging them to discharge the colored and secure white labor in its stead. Accordingly Co'l Edward Tayloe discharged all his colored help to take effect at the close of the present year Mason immediately leased lands to all of them some twenty in number for a term of ten years and now says he cannot do without their labor. I do not now apprehend any very serious danger to result to the colored people from the course they are pursuing as they are no sooner discharged from one place than another is open for them, their labor cannot be dispensed with, as the white people here will not work.
The colored people are peaceable and industrious and seem to be making improvement both mentally and morally

Respectfully Submitted
C G McClelland
A S A Com'r

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-27 13:05:54