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352

July 18th,

Hon. John Erskine,
Judge of the U.S. Court,
District of Georgia,

Dear Sir,
I beg to call your attention to the very great necessity for the immediate appointment, in this State, of United States' Commissioners, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Rights' Bill.  Many well-established cases of violation, of the second section of the Act of Congress referred to, have been reported at this office_  Prisoners in the hands of Civil officers have been subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and the Civil Courts of the State have, in repeated instances, refused to ask for the protection of Union men and freedpeople, or to take steps to punish parties guilty of outrages upon them_  The Military authorities are comparatively powerless to act, and any interference by them is discouraged by the authorities at Washington. In this