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86

Your obt servt

Brig. Gen & Asst Commsr


Office Assistant-Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen,
and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala. Oct 21st 1865

His Excellency,
Lewis E Parsons
Governor of Alabama,

Sir;
I have the honor to report that I am officially advised that at Tuskegee a negro whose name is unknown to me has been sentenced to death upon conviction of rape or attempt at rape upon a white woman.
The statute under which this proceeding is had stipulates the penalty of death only in case the offender is a slave or free negro.
With all respect for the proceedings of the Court it appears to me that this clause is part of the slave code and abrogated by  that humane course of your Excellency which is now part of the organic law, and under which the Courts of this State are directed to take for their method of procedure the laws now in force in this State, except so for as those laws make a distinction on account of color.
And out of respect to human life I am constrained to ask that this execution be delayed until the action of the Court in this particular can be authoritatively inquired into.
Very Respectfully
Your obt servt,



87

Brig Gen and
Asst Commissioner

Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen
and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala. Oct 23rd 1865

Brig Gen. C.B Fisk.
Asst Comms'r Bureau Refugees &c
Nashville. Tenn.

General:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication in reference to Chaplain Goodfellow. 
I desire to retain his services as Supt of the Huntsville District.
I shall start tomorrow morning for Washington to be absent about twelve days. On my return I will call on you. 
Until that time please allow the affairs of the Huntsville District to continue as at present, and give such assistance as may be required.

Very Respectfully,
Your obt servt,

Brig. Gen. & Asst Coms'r


Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala, Oct 23rd 1865

Chaplain T.M. Goodfellow
Supt Freedmen
Dist of Huntsville

Sir;
Gen Swayne directs me to

Transcription Notes:
Chaplain T.M. Goodfellow - name is Thomas A person was a Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, not a Commander. So, Com'r, or Comm'r, Comis'r or Comms'r is for Commissioner.