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It is conjectured they will nett about fifty-thousand dollars. The largest one cannot be brought out of the Tombigbee, where she has been a long time aground, until the river rises. There also some frame buildings about the State, which will be looked up and disposed of by an officer designated for that purpose by the Dept Quartermaster. Delay in all these matters has arisen from the frequent changes in which every thing is involved here. We have however already received as the first fruits of the order about eight thousand dollars which has been a great assistance.

Early in the month two persons were arrested by the Provost Guard, charged with plundering negroes on the highway. I caused them to be tried by a Military Commission. The testimony did not make a good case and they were released on bail pending the decision of the approving officer at Department Headquarters. Two others were arrested on suspicion of belonging to a marauding gang. Although they were finally discharged for want of proof, yet as they were men of some prominence the arrest had an excellent effect in their County.

On the 15th inst the Legislature re-assembled. The palpable failure when it last adjourned of the attempt to depart from the stanard[[standard]] of "equal rights before the law" so long established here, and the wonderful abatement of doubt and dread which the freedmen themselves enacted during the holidays by going quickly to work, had wrought marked change in the public mind. The Governor had no hesitation in declaring

that he would set his seal to no bill which did not deal alike with all men whose circumstances were the same. The vetoes were sustained in both houses. A bill has been introduced and will pass applying this qualification to all laws in force, and repealing all inconsistent with it. And as the Legislature long ago directed the Governor to appoint a commission to rectify the criminal laws, it is supposed their report, which is next week to be presented, will be in consonance with this view. Indeed I trust the extended discussion this proposition had had in this State has given it such a footing that it can never be dislodged. One of the Governor's veto messages however requires a special notice. In returning the labor contracts bill, he states that in his opinion no remedy is necessary for violation of contracts, beyond that of damages, which the common law affords. As to freedmen, this is practically no remedy at all, except where unpaid wages have accrued. Indeed it points to an abandonment of the contract system. This statement is worthy of profound consideration. It did not emanate from me, yet I may now say that I concur in it. I found the contract system established here practically and in orders. The planters liked it and so vigorously demanded contracts there was danger they would not undertake to plant at all without them. Idleness was extremely prevalent, and contracts might answer to restrain this disposition. "Labor regulations" were therefore issued from this office. But is has all the while been my