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guilty of crime and escape its penalties; but simply to secure to them the rights of freemen, holding them at the same time, subject to the same laws by which other classes are governed. 

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BY ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL SLOCUM:
J. WARREN MILLER,
Assistant Adjutant General.

In accordance with this order, where the Judicial officers and Magistrates of the Provisional Government of this State will take for their mode of procedure the laws now in force in this State, except so far as those laws make a distinction on account of color, and allow the negroes the same rights, and privileges as are accorded to white men before their courts, officers of this Bureau will not interfere with such tribunals, but give them every assistance possible in the discharge of their duties. 
In cities or counties where Mayors, Judicial Officers and Magistrates will assume the duties of the administration of justice to the Freedmen, in accordance with Paragraph VII, Circular No. 5., issued from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, and approved by the President, and will signify their willingness to comply with this request by a written acceptance addressed to the Assistant Commissioner for the State, no Freedmen Courts will be established, and those that may now be in existence in such localities will be closed. 
It is expected that the officers of this Bureau will heartily co-operate with the State Officials in establishing law and order, and that all conflict of authority and jurisdiction will be avoided. 

BY ORDER OF COL. SAM'L THOMAS,
Assistant Com'r, Freedmen's Bureau, 
for State of Mississippi.

STUART ELDRIDGE,
Lieut., Acting Ass't Adj't General.

OFFICIAL:
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Lieut. and Act. Ass't Adj't. General.