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Depredations Some few complaints of depredations have been made which were committed, it would appear by unemployed freedmen, a number of whom live upon fish & oysters which are abundant in creeks. These fellows steal the stock, rob the corn-houses, and unfortunately the Civil law affords no adequate remedy. In connexion with this, the officer at Mount Pleasant remarks "that where a difficulty exists and a Magistrate issues a warrant for the arrest of a person 20 miles distant, it is impossible to get a constable to execute it - te fee being but 50 cents which leaves the party go unwhipt of justice. To remedy this if it can be done, I would respectfully call the attention of the Department to devise some means by which these people may be brought to punishment. Schools As relates to schools, it is observed that, unless the expenses for education be borne by the Bureau, or Benevolent Societies, little progress can be made - for aid from other sources is neither expected nor to be had as the freedpeople are without money, and are of course unable to contribute anything to their support." Marriage relation "The non-fulfillment of the Marriage Contract is still a source of much trouble, and will require stringent measures ere it can ever be partially suppressed, but it is hoped that, after the law makes a few examples for the crime of Bigamy, or perhaps Polygamy, the parties who are likely to commit such offenses will be deterred from them.