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[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

Office of The Tribune,
[[strikethrough]] New York [[/strikethrough]] Richmond Va, June 9 1865

Col O Brown,
Supt Freedmens Dept
Virginia

Sir.
In deference to the wish of a friend, who informs me you are gathering the facts in relation to the condition of the colored people here. I would most respectfully submit the following incident, occurring Thursday June 8 - as an indicative of the sentiment of those here having charge.

While standing on the corner of Franklin & 12 Sts. Thursday morning, attracted by the halting, examining and despatching of colored men, I was somewhat astonished to hear Police officer Cowen make use of the following language, to a colored lad formerly free, holding a pass from his employer also a former freeman, which pass the officer scrupled to accept, the lad observing "things are worse now