Miss Chase,

The subject of enquiry in your note, is one so broad, that I fear I cannot give satisfaction both from my imperfect understanding of the matter & from ‘want of time –

When you ask “if any laws exist in any state prejudicial to the colored man,” I suppose Southern States are intended-- Of course all former slave codes are prejudicial to his interests & if they have not been abolished or modified since the war, they still exist, but of course only as a dead letter: for such civil laws would come in direct contact with Bureau & Military requirements – South Carolina, during the past year, giving to the Negro, civil rights in common with white-men

Alabama I think has recently passed a bill establishing a system of “common schools for black & white, with the proviso of a separate attendance–

If the black race were in possession of pecuniary means, I have no doubt they could establish as many schools as they might chuse – for whatever might be the malignant desires & designs of the whites, they must give way to Southern interests & to the inflexible demands of the North in favor of present Justice –

As to the “usual temper + relation existing between the Freedmen &their old masters” it is growing better just as fast as want & starvation stare the masters in the face, for want of productions labor!-- This one thing has brought S. Carolina to her knees! Some of her legislators, advocate now, instead of the “whipping post” of former times, the building schoolhouses & churches for Freedmen – a greater leniency of feeling towards them a forbearance with their faults & various other Christian virtues – never before found in the Slaveholder’s calender!–

This is ostensibly their creed; but how much unfair dealing, extortion &tc – is currently practiced, God only knows –

You know people vary in opinions of “laws prejudicial” to the colored – I think N. York state has laws prejudicial to the race – in the property qualification for suffrage – I think Pennsylvania has “laws prejudiced” when Philadelphia turns a colored man or woman from her street cars, with violence and hate.

I will return all flannels unused – & beg you to receive my thanks for your kind forethought in our behalf –

Very truly –
A. Y. Pillsbury