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matter of dispute between him and his former master or his employer in this county, since the emancipation of the slaves, has been brought before Judge Cook and decided by him if not every case, at least the great majority of cases, and only in very difficult cases of when ordered did he refer them to the Bureau at Montgomery
I speak from personal knowledge when I state to you that day after day, and I step within bounds, when I say almost every day, has he been called upon to decide matter of dispute between the negroes & their employers. You and every man must know how difficult these matter are to decide. I know, from personal knowledge that he has always decided these matter upon what he considered just principles. At first he was condemned & disrevenued, by any of the whites, became as the con