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3.

Mr Howard resided I am told about twenty mils, from Meridian the county town of the County in which he is on duty.
If the order signed by Wm H Sinclair as A.A.G. was issued with your consent, I am fully persuaded that you were gravely misinformed as to the real facts of the case: for I do not believe that you would in the discharge of your duty, invest an inferior with a degree of discretion, which if not soundly exercised, would be so well calculated to prejudice the harmony of all your labors: nor do I believe that you would willingly invest your inferior with power to shield a criminal in violation of the Statue law of the State.
I am not disposed to attribute wrong motives to Mr Howard, but the presumption is irresistible that when a grand jury under oath present an indictment, that there is reasonable ground to believe in the presence of quiet at least. The presumption is [[stikethrough]] great [[/strikethrough]] strong enough to demand in respect for the law, that a thorough investigation be had. The fact that a freedman is charged