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Freedmen.
Hoping that this may meet with your approval and your very earliest convenient attention. I am, Colonel.
Your obedient servant,
(signed) Chas Bancroft.
This of the civil government manifests a commendable spirit toward the Freedmen in his county in thier new position as free men, and expresses an interest in their welfare and improvement that will be fostered and encouraged by officers of this Bureau.
The duties he wishes to assume should be discharged by his office, yet the laws of the State prevent him from recognizing the rights of Freedmen under State authority. He expresses a desire to conform to the policy of the general government with reference to the Freedmen.
Such a disposition on the part of the Civil officers throughout the State would relieve the officers of the Bureau of immense labor and responsibility, and would be the first step towards doing away with the necessity of such a military organization.
Major, George D. Reynolds, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, for the Southern District of Mississippi, will furnish the said Chas Bancroft, Clerk of the Probate Court of Pike County, all necessary instructions, blanks, records, &c., for issuing marriage licenses, solemnizing marriages and approving contracts. He will for his labor, be allowed a fair compensation out of fees collected.
By order of Col Sam'l Thomas
Stuart Eldridge
Lieut. Act Asst Adjt Genl.

Freedmen's Courts Establishment of Civil Authorities Jurisdiction of

Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands,
Office Asst Commissioner for State of Miss.
Vicksburg Miss, Sept 20th 1865.
General Ordesrs}
No. 8 }
The following extracts from

Circular No. 5, current series, Bureau Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, and Genl Orders No. 10. current series Head Qrs Department of Miss, in reference to the same, are hereby republished for the guidance of officers of this Bureau:
War Department, Bureau Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
Washington May 30th 1865.
Circular }
No. 5 }
Rules and Regulations for Assistant Commissioners.
x x x x x x x
VII In all places where there is an interruption of civil law, or in which local courts, by reason of old orders, in violation of the freedmen guaranteed by the Proclamation of the President and laws of Congress, disregard the negroes' rights to justice before the laws, in not allowing him to give testimony, the control of all subjects relating to Refugees and Freedmen being committed to this Bureau, the Assistant Commissioners will adjudicate, either themselves or through officers of their appointment, all difficulties arising between negroes and whites or Indians, except those in military service, so far as recognizable by military authority, and not taken cognizance of by the other tribunals, civil or military, of the United States.
O.O. Howard, Major General,
Commissioner Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen &c.
Approved, June 2. 1865.
Andrew Johnson
President of the U.S.
Head Qrs Department of Mississippi,
Vicksburg Miss August 3. 1865.
General Orders }
No. 10. }
x x x x x x x
VII. This order (circular No. 5, Paragraph VII, Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands) however must be so construed as to give the colored man immunities not accorded to other persons. If he is charged with "the violation of any law, of the State, or an ordinance of any city, for