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a man must be sued either in [[strikethrough]] his own [[/strikethrough]] the bent of [[?]] residence or the one in which the debt was contracted.  I have no idea they will ever get a cent - The Defendants are either migrating, and will "move" before a judgment can be had, under our "Stay law," or they are hopelessly insolvent & have been since infancy, or they have an outside show of means but when probed, a mortgage, lien, or wife owns all the property.  Such debts can only be saved by an attachment of some of the produce made on the farm, to do which requires a bond and security, employment of an attorney and the taking of one of the oaths laid down in "Section 2504" "Ala Code" - neither of which can many negroes do.

The Courts of our State are certainly fully and impartially open to Negroes by Law but they are practically closed to them and who, from their impoverished condition, are unable to avail themselves of the advantages given them by law.

Please inform me if any means of collecting these bad debts will be provided by your Department - I would like to know before I hold the "Winter Term" of my court - 1 Monday in December.  If Bureau [[strikethrough]] Courts [[/strikethrough]] "Agents" are authorized to collect these claims, by all means General, let these Agents be the "first class" of the Community - men of sound judgment, and social position and Southern - not Northern.  Please consider this letter confidential.

Respectfully
Robt. A. Flemming