Viewing page 152 of 277

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

4

One great obstacle to securing Justice to the freed=people depends upon the incompetency, as well as the indisposition of many Justice's of the Peace, particular those in remote localities, to administer the law regardless of Color  In many instances those men are illiterate and are governed only by their prejudice, or that of the community in which they live, and when Justice is most needed invariably the sympathy will be in favor of the white man. We are placed under some disadvantage in the absence of regular mail routs to those remote localities, and the Justices take no pains to acquaint themselves with their duties, or supply themselves with late orders, and circulars. After they heard of the passage of the military bill, some of them refused to act supposing they had no authority to do so, I think I have them all under way again, and spare no pains to instruct them and impress upon their minds the importance of their discharging their duties regardless of color, or any prejudice in the minds of themselves or the community — I have a hospital or asylum at this place where the Bureau R.F. and A.L. support indigent refugees and freedmen as follows

Refugee's men 2
Refugee's women 4
Refugee's children -
Freedmen 13
Freed women 25
Freed children 17

I have received 34 bbls Pork, and 96 bbls flour, have issued 16 bbls Pork, and 26 bbls