If you can show that you had previously been free for a certain length of time, we will fulfil the other side of the contract.

If not, we repudiate it Help yourselves, if you can.
In other words, a freedman (since April 19, 1861) has no rights which a white man is bound to respect.

He is incapable of making a contract No man is bound by a contract made with him.

Any employer, following the example of the United States Government, may make with him a written agreement receive his services, and then withhold the wages.

He has no motive to honest industry, or to honesty of any kind.