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demands it. I have granted transportation hereto:
for only when the alternative was that the party must be supported by the Government.
2nd - Applications are made for transportation for parties of Refugees, sometimes carrying as high as fifty, to plantations from which they were brought to escape our forces. I do not start such parties, but when they come here from another State, with transportation thus far, have endorsed the order & sent them on, as we have enough of such here now. Does the course pursued in these cases meet your approval.

Very Respectfully
Your obt servant,

Brig. Gen & Asst Coms'r

Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedman
and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala. Sept 9th 1865

[[left margin]] See page 27 [[/left margin]]
Sir
Your attention is respectfully called to the fact that throughout the country, civil justice at the South is extensively pronounced a failure, especially as far as negros are concerned. With the same feeling the course of the Assistant Commissioner for this State in delegating to the civil courts the judicial authority vested in him is regarded as more than questionable.

This class of assertions can be best met by facts and to this end you are requested to send at once to this office a report mentioning all cases which have come to your knowledge within
your jurisdiction in which white men have been bound over, fined, indicted or convicted, for outrages committed upon negros and the

number of negroes similarly dealt with, and to send such report hereafter monthly. The General results shown by these reports will be made public.
That such outrages are of lamentably frequent occurrence
is apparent from reports rendered by United States Officers and by the better class of citizens, from letters to the Press, by troubles in this State, and from the incontestable evidence of negroes who present themselves to the Military Agencies of this Bureau having been shot, stabbed or otherwise severely injured.
These things promote a widespread and rightful indignation. Some Counties where there are no United States Troops from this cause are acquiring a notoriety which bids fair to injure them, in respect to Amnesty and representation for a long time to come. Congress will inquire into the condition of each district - from which a representation is sent.

For these reasons as well as for those which pertain to natural rights and the fact that ruffianism is infectious it is hoped you will with continuing effort stimulate the good people of your vicinity to give to civil justice its fullest and most equitable operation without distinction of color.

Very Respectfully
Your obt servant,
Brig. Gen & Asst Coms'r.

Executive Department
State of Alabama
Montgomery, Ala, Sept 11th 1865

The foregoing request of Brig. Gen. Swayne is designed to correct statements believed to be unfounded and calculated to injure the interests of the people of Alabama. I therefore call on all officers of the Provisional Government of this State to whom he may send it to give him the information he desires.

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