Viewing page 109 of 346

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

preferred against them, so far as has been made public.

   I have carefully read the "act to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and furnish the means of their vindication" passed Apr. 9 1866. Also, "An act to continue in force and to ammend "an Act to establish a Bureau for the relief of Freedmen and Refugees" and for other purposes," passed July 16th 1866. Also, the Act to which this is amendatory, kindly furnished by Maj Genl Kiddoo, and in them, I can find no authority for thus seizing and imprisoning citizens without a warrant or writ directed from some competent authority.

   These are troublesome questions, and I beg to assure you, that I desire only to call you attention to the subject in other that a proper understanding may exist between the Federal and State Authorities, and that in so doing it is my earnest desire to shield no citizen who may have offended against the laws, Federal or State, from punishment, but, on the contrary, to aid in bringing all such persons to a prompt and speedy trial.  But, whilst such is my desire, it is my bounden duty to protect the citizens of the State from wrong and oppression as far as I am able.