Viewing page 281 of 309

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

of emancipated slaves were let loose in an unbridled and unappreciated freedom.

Taking this reasonable view, the conviction of only 229 persons of Color for the crimes referred to shows that there could not have been much, if any oppression or injustice done this class of people.

In looking over the statements of the convicts as taken down by the Bureau Agents I have been impressed with the falsehoods uttered by the convicts and evidently relied upon by the agents and which should be apparent to every one acquainted with affairs in this State - some killed hogs, others stole bacon &c. &c. because as they said they were hungry and their employers did not furnish rations.  The great effort to procure and retain labor, if fair dealing was out of the question, makes such statements as these very improbable.  Nor do I believe them true.  Quite a number acknowledge to the taking of the articles charged but render as an excuse that the parties from whom they took them were in their debt.  others made mistakes, and not a few say they did not do the stealing but the property was found in their possession &c. &c.

In the case of two reported for stealing oxen, one says he bought the oxen from a Mexican, the other says that his cousin (the one who claimed to have bought the oxen) stole them - thus contradicting each other.  I am in possession of the facts as proven on the trials of quite a number of the convicts and the statements made to the agents are very different from the facts.

It will afford me much pleasure to cooperate