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Clinton Miss.
Oct. 10th 1865

Col. Donalson

Sir
I see by Paragraph 7, Circular No 5, issued from the bureau of refugees, Freedman &c that if a Mayor or Magistrate is willing to try all cases that may come before him, where the Freedman is interested, according to, or by the laws of the State without regard to color, that, no Freedmans Court will be established & those in existence abolished. I am and have been actiing in capacity of Mayor of this village and have admitted the testimony of Freedmen whenever they have appeared before me as a party to any suit or in any way interested in the same, and am willing to continue to do so, and that too, from a conviction on my part, that it is right & proper, in the absence of any special laws passed to govern and controll Freedmen, to do so. I shall with confidence expect the cooperation & assistance of the department, as I find it difficult to convince the Freedmen that a Southern officer will do them Justice.

Very respectfully &c
[[signature]] J. B. Greaves [[/signature]] Mayor
of Clinton & J. P.