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their wages and produced a simple order - generally in these words "Dec 25/68 Due A___ B___  ____dollars" "signed D___ C." There is no alternative for these men but to wait the pleasure of the employer and hard as many of the contracts were under which work was performed in 1868 the contracts offered for 1869 are still harder and the entire labor system of this portion of the State bids fair to be utterly demoralized unless some means can be devised by competent authority or legislation to compel faithful performance of contracts as to the labor on the part of the Freedmen and as to payment on the part of Employers. The holding back crop of Tobacco for a better market is advantageous to the employer but utterly ruinous to the employee who is thus driven to make the best terms he can for his home during 1869 as he has not the means to seek a better situation or remove to it if offered

I am General 
Very respectfully
Yr obt ser
Thos P. Jackson
Sub Asst Comr

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-20 18:21:42 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-21 08:57:38