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4

Col. W H. Wiegel reports that the complaints are increasing, many complaints of a trifling nature are received and settled, without trouble, which are not entered upon the Complaint Book.

Several outrages have been committed in Howard Co. and Talbot by returned Rebel Soldiers, as alledged, and though not officially reported, the attention of the Civil Authorities has been called to these cases, and interference and protection of this Office, threatened and offered.

Col. Wiegel again earnestly calls the attention of the Bureau to the iniquity of the apprenticeship system, and suggests that some determined effort he made to more effectually break the entire system, and that very soon. As the case now stands, the Rebel sympathizers in the lower Counties not having the fear of Judge Bond before them (inasmuch as the last State Legislature passed a Law restricting his "Writs of Habeus Corpus" to this City) that they re-take Children which he months ago returned to the care of their Parents Wee [[Well]] knowing his inability to compel their attendance or punish them for Contempt. The Judges generally in the Counties being in sympathy with them decline to act, and it is reported to me that Judge Giles of the U.S. Court in this City declines to act, because under the "Dred Scott" decision he cannot recognise them as Citizens. Col. Wiegel therefore suggests that some action should be taken by Congress (if not already provided for) in reference to this Apprentice System, which is as bad, if not worse, than slavery was in the old form, or the Children should be taken by force, and be returned to their parents, who have been robbed of their Children

Transcription Notes:
changed "outages" to "outrages"