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7.

administer the law. He will justly administer the law, regardless of the consequences. The laws of the State are ample to protect the freed people in all their rights, and to punish those who infringe upon their rights of person and property. It affords me pleasure to inform you that the Courts of the State are executing the laws against white persons, who wrong freedmen. I feel assured they will do it. Yet I know it is charged to the contrary. But my own knowledge of the facts warrant me in the assertion. It is, nevertheless, true that in all cases, the parties are not arrested -- but so it is in regard to offences against white persons. I also feel constrained to add that in many cases where negroes have been convicted for offences under the old law that was applicable to white and black the courts and juries, and people have joined in applications for pardon, and paid heavy costs and expenses to procure their pardons, many of which I have granted. Therefore, I trust you will receive with many grains of allowance, the sweeping and indiscriminate charges made against the people of the State that they are cruel to negroes and oppress