Viewing page 147 of 298

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

135

June 12

Sir
Your com of the 6th inst relative to your son Lucus is recd I am directed by the Asst Comr to say that an act of the Legislature of Ga passed at its recent sessions and approved March 9th 1866 provides in the 3rd section thereof that every colored child heretofore born is declared to be the legitimate child of his mother & also of his colored father, if acknowledged by such father" since the decision of this office in this case the civil authorities have [[strikethrough]]] been taken [[/strikethrough]] had the authority to adjudicate in civil suits restored to them & [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] your case must be heard & decided by them - The decision of this office in this case was based on the fact that you were still living with one woman as your wife while another woman by whom you had had children [[strikethrough]] did [[/strikethrough]] lived apart from you and you were endeavoring to obtain