Viewing page 135 of 270

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office of Sub. Asst. Commr.
B.R. F. and A.L.

Tuscaloosa August 30th, 1867

To Major O.D. Kinsmore

[[seal]] The National Archives of the United States [[/seal]]

Asst Commr
Montgomery, Ala,

I have the honor in this my monthly report to state, generally, the condition of affairs in this district,
In accordance with the circular No, 21, no rations have been distributed since the 20th ins't.: no application having been made from "regularly organized Hospitals". I deem it my duty to call your attention to a startling feature in the condition of the Freedman in this district. Many complaints reach this office of the refusal of employees to pay their hands; of assaults upon freedmen, etc. This office can do nothing for them, except refer them to the Civil Courts for redress: besides the slow process of the Law, there stands in the way the difficulty of obtaining counsel, the Freedmen as a general thing have no mean to pay a fee; consequently they submit to be swindled simply because they cannot purchase justice: in cases of assault they are afraid to complain; and many times are either bought off, or threatened. It seems to me some mode should be adopted, by which justice may