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Office Asst. Supt. Mathews Co. Va
Mathews Ct. House April 7th 1866

Genl S. C. Armstrong
Supt. 9th Dist. Va. 

Sir -

In compliance with Circular No.12 Hd. Qrs. Asst. Comr. State of Va. March 21st 1866, I have conferred with the Board of Overseers of the Poor, for this County in regard to their assuming the expense, either wholy, or in part, of caring for the colored paupers of this Co. They object to assume, at present, such obligation for the following reasons: First, their own destitute condition at the present time, which for the past two or three years has been such that they have been able to render little or no assistance to the white paupers. Secondly: that the proportion of needy among the Freedmen is so much greater than among the whites, that the burden of support would fall upon the white taxpayers, particularly as the Freedmen have no property to tax and could only pay a capitation tax.

I will submit some facts in regard to the method of levying taxes.  Previous to the year 1862 State taxes in this Co were assessed, by Legislation, on Persons, on real Estate, and on perishable property, but County taxes and levies for the Poor were always raised on persons only.  There is a fund of about $10,000 [[?]] interest, of which was applied

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