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Measures are being adopted to push vigorously the cause of education among the colored people & we confidently hope under the new arrangement to be able to organize several schools in this Div. in addition to those formerly reported. We fully indorse the sentiment expressed by those at the head of the Bureau that education is the great want of the Freedman & that the principal effort of the Government should be directed toward it. It will afford me great pleasure to use my best endeavors to aid in pushing this matter to the point of greatest possible advancement & shall spare no pains to mak the means placed at my disposal most useful in promoting this end.

It is a doubtful question in my mind whether the distribution of clothing among the colored people is of any real benefit to them as under the most careful discrimination many cases will occur where the recipients are not proper object of charity & if thrown upon their own recourse would provide for themselves. The tendency therefore is to encourage illeness & want of care — The great lesson which need to be taught to this people as a race is self reliance & personal

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-28 22:06:51 changed "x" throughout to "&" (and)