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[[margin]] Complaints & Outrages toward Freedmen [[/margin]]

IX
The number of complaints reported at this office during the month was 92 of which 12 were for assault and battery - 3 for adultery - 4 for detaining property - 20 for driving off from plantations & 55 for money due laborers. Of the above complaints 4 were referred to the Grand Jury and 2 Indictments found - 7 were referred to magistrates who punished the offenders. 20 were sent back to plantations with instructions to the planters to retake them into their employ, 15 of whoom were retaken as directed. 30 cases have been satisfactorily adjusted at this office, and the balance are being investigated as rapidly as possible, or the freedmen have been instructed to prevent the removal of the crops until a satisfactory settlement is made.

In the investigation & settlement of the above complaints, 42 letters have been written from this office to the various parties.

[[margin]] State Laws [[/margin]]

X
The laws regarding taxation bear heavily upon the poor, as the policy of the State discourages labor by placing such an enormous burden upon it, while