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194 Office Assistant Commissioner Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands Montgomery Ala. Jany 23, 1866 Capt T.I. Kerr Chief Q.M. R.F. & A.L. Mobile, Ala Captain; Your communication of the 21st inst sent by Lt McGogy is received. The General directs that you may dispose of the vessels in accordance with the proposition made to you (840,000 and expenses paid) provided Gen Woods to whom Mr Foote's claim was referred is not good & confirms conditions of sale. If Gen W. confirms Mr F's claim sell the other two to the best advantage under the same advice. In relation to the property with Capt Boyd I enclose a letter for him, and one to Mr Montague on the same subject. If you think it necessary on receipt of this letter you may come up to confer with the General as requested in your telegram of this date. Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt A.A.G. Office Assistant Commissioner Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands Montgomery Ala, Jany 23, 1866 Capt C.L. Lewis Comd'r Vol Mil Co Beat No 2 Russell Co. Ala Sir; The attention of the Assistant Commissioner for this State, has been called to so much of the 195 enclosed order from you to your subordinates as directs the search for, and seizure of, arms and ammunition, reported in the hands of freedman and their arrest for "seditious and insurrectionary language". The Constitution of the United States commands that the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, and that the right of the people to be protected in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. The talk of insurrectionary violence is nonsense. The solemn pledge of the United States to the freed people of color that they shall be and remain free requires that the law, by whomever administered, and including these provisions, shall be faithfully, and equally applied to all men, without distinction on account of color. Forces of the United States were placed within this State to see that the provisions and pledge above cited were not treated as null. It was hoped that the good sense of the people of Alabama would soon relieve them from the necessary results of military occupation - and very much has been done in this direction. Precisely such orders as your own, and every species of outrage committed under them in some Counties in this State, require that these troops be still kept here and employed. Application has been made to the Department Commander for a garrison for your County and for unlawful acts of yourself and your subordinates, you will be held to a stern
Transcription Notes:
** Capt. T I KERR -- Thomas I Kerr