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citizens of respectability, who did not doubt that the proof fully sustained the Indictment, but because the amounts were small. They were trial under the same rules and regulations applicable to white men.  I mention this in order that you may know  the feeling of our people, and my own disposition towards the freedman.  I will mention further for your information, that having been actively engaged in the practice of the law up to the time of  my recent coming to this place, I have witnessed in numerous cases the care of our Judges, and leniency of juries of the County, in giving freedmen a fair trial.  Under our law it is the duty of the Courts to appoint counsel where defendants have none and are too poor to imploy any.  I assure you I have not witnessed the trial of a freedman anywhere that the Court did not assign the ablest counsel at the bar to conduct the defense.  I have been appointed myself in conjunction with others in four cases. In one case I succeeded in getting an acquittal when, I am sure, I could not have cleared a white person.