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satisfaction to many of the leading men in this Division to keep the Freed people in a state of want and destitution as they wish to prove that the present condition of the colored people is far worse than when they were slaves! If the white people would only act honestly and uprightly in all their business transaction with the colored, there would be a very different state of feelings in existence between the races, but they wont, nor don't intend to give the colored man equal justice but will cheat and abuse him whenever a chance presents itself. I have noticed a good many deaths amongst the colored people since I came to this place and some of them I know died for want of medical treatment and one old man died from want and exposure, some apply to me for assistance I send them to the overseer of the poor of their district, and all they invariably get is a chance to go the poor house, no matter what their circumstance or situation may be. I cannot tell the reason why but it is a candid fact, I have seen colored people who would rather starve to death, than go to the poor house. The white men in this division more particularly in Charlotte County are doing everything in their power to make the colored man vote according to their dictation and they will resort to any means no matter how base or inhumane in order to carry out their object, where words and threats will fail, they will use violence, and there are many colored men now who are afraid to express their political sentiments in the presence of white men. On last court day at Charlotte C.H. there was two colored men (Homes & Bland) who made

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-29 11:14:29