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Union Springs Ala  Jany 4/65

Gen. Swayne
Ass't Agt. Bureau F.R & A.L.

Sir,

I have lately been appointed Justice of the Peace for Beat No 8 (Union Springs) by Prov Governor Parsons, and by an ordinance of the Alabama Convention, am authorized to act until my Successor is appointed or elected by another ordinance as required to act under the Laws an regulations existing in the State until the adjournment of the Legislature.

I, in common with all other civil officers of my grade, am making my way in the dark, and am, in scores of cases unable to act legally, for want of proper information. I cannot avail myself of the Laws passed by our Legislature, for I am met with the ordinance of our Commissioner and your Reminder, I cannot act under the Laws of /61, for the Negro is not now, as he was then, and I cannot act under orders from your Bureau, for I do not know a single order issued by said Bureau.

I have applied to the Comdt Post here for the orders by your Bureau and have not been able to get a single Copy. He seems to be as ignorant as myself. I am constantly applied to by Negroes with complaints of a criminal nature, and

Transcription Notes:
edited: per SI ignore archive stamp, removed, [[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]