Major Anderson, late of Fort Sumter, S. C.:
SIR: You hold my three notes for $4,500 each, with about $1,000 accumulated interest, all due in the month of March, 1862, which notes were given in part payment of twenty-nine negroes, purchased of you in March, 1860. As I consider fair play a jewel, I take this method to notify you that I will not pay those notes; but, as I neither seek nor wish an advantage, I desire that you return me the notes and the money paid you, and the negroes shall be subject to your order, which you will find much improved by kind treatment, since they came into my possession.
I feel justified in giving you, and the public, this notice, as I do not consider it fair play that I should be held to pay for the very property you so opportunely dispossessed yourself of, and now seek to destroy both their value and usefulness to me. I ask no more than to cancel the sale, restore to you your property, and let each assume his original position; then your present efforts may be considered less selfish, because at your expense, and not mine.
JOHN G. COCKS.
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David Upton