To the Editor of the Bolivar Bulletin;

Sir, I offered the reward in your paper of the 17th for a boy ANDERSON. He is young, inexperienced and entirely unable to take care of himself. I offered the $25.00 not to get his services, but to protect him from the evil influences of men among whom he would, necessarily be thrown in Memphis. He did not leave me, but a friend of mine, and I thought he would be willing to remain at my house and stay out his time. It was for the negro boy’s sake the reward was offered. If the Editor of the Press and Times wishes to know how I regard slavery, he can easily learn. Every union man of any responsibility, can tell him. My Negroes all wish to remain another year with me, but I have found out that such as he are hunting for cause of quarrel, not to inquire into and see who is the true friend of the Freedmen. I would not publish and be responsible, morally, for such a base, unmitigated slander as he puts forth for all the Negroes I once owned. I shall look with interest for an answer, and if not made, I denounce the Editor of the Press and Times as a man attempting to injure me upon unfair grounds, and therefore unworthy of all notice, unless he should meet me and say in words what he has placed in print. Hoping this will be sufficient, I remain.
Your ob’t serv’t
M. T. POLK

The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 01 Dec. 1866, Page 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.