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5

[[left margin]] Complaints and Outrages [[/left margin]]

Complaints during the month have been numerous and varies, both from Whites and Col.d.

Most of the complaints of freedmen are that they are driven off the places, after the crop is laid by for the purpose of defrauding them of their share of the crops. On the other hand the planters complain that the freedmen refuse to work after the crop is laid by, untill gathering time, at the same time demand the regular ration for themselves and families. All these cases have been settled by the freedmen returning to work or by arbitration. But few cases of outrages have been reported, and with one exception the parties have been promply arrested and bound over, to keep the peace, or to appear before the court, by the U.S. Commissioner.

In one case two surgeons certified that the man who committed the outrage was insane.

[[left margin]] State laws how administered [[/left margin]]

I have no knowledge as to how the state Laws have been executed, in this District towards the freedmen, as no cases have come under my observation during the month, and no complaints have been made.

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