Viewing page 42 of 50

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The Commonwealth of Virginia,
Executive Department.
Richmond, Oct 7th 1865
Col O Brown
Assistant Comm. &c
Colonel.
Your communication of the 11th of Sept is before me, in which you enquire whether the Judicial officers of this state, would "act as agents of this" (Freedman's) bureau in "securing the testimony of colored persons" &c. I have the honor to reply, that I have given careful consideration to this subject, and have come to the conclusion that the proposition is not practicable. The State Officers are prohibited from holding any post of profit, trust, or emolument, civil, or military, under the Government of the United States. The Seventh Section of Circular no 5. of Gen Howard's order, to which you refer, it is required that in all adjudications made by the assistant commissioners of the Bureau. They shall secure the testimony of colored persons. By the Law of the State, negroes cannot testify in