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[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

Libertytown Fredk Co. Md.
May 30th 1871. 

E. Whittlesey A.A.A. General.

Dear Sir
The question having arisen, "How far an officer is bound to execute a writ of Bastardry in this state; against a man of color, at the suit of a colored woman for the same".

The practice heretofore, being, that the party as defendant were arrested, committed (in absence of bail) and the same day or immediately afterwards, were brought out under a writ of "Habeas Corpus" and discharged.

Now the advise and opinion of Mr Isaac Jones A general of the state of Maryland is, "That the law has been several times under consideration by the courts of appeals, & that the court has held that the proceedings under the 1st section of Art 13 code of Pub. Genl. Laws is a criminal proceeding under a special jurisdiction, which must be strictly preserved, and that there is no ammendment of the constitution of the U.S or any law of Congress relative to the civil rights or such persons which will affect it, and the foundation of the proceeding authorizing a Justice of the peace to issue a warrant being on information given him of any  "white woman" having an illegitimate child. The law has been held

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