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In the town of St. Martinsville one of your officers refused to receive the testimony of a colored man. I have ordered that in such places the officers of the Bureau establish tribunals, to which shall be brought all cases of colored persons, between themselves or between themselves and whites, and that the civil authorities have no jurisdiction what ever. But in this place, as in all others, I will insist that the state authorities be not interfered with whenever they treat the freedmen as entitled to the same justice before the law as any other citizens.

I would be glad to see your Excellency advise all state officers to accept the invitation extended in my circular, and to receive the testimony of colored persons in all the courts of the state. However the law may be clear in this point, yet is obvious enough that some of the judicial officers of the state need some special instructions from the state Executive on the subject.

I am inclined to the belief that you will take any step by which good may come to the people. Certainly I am ready and anxious