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assigned; and the official seemed very ready to acquiesce; as if he had been posted by the present Military authorities in order to favour a few of their particular Secesh friends, and reject me in this way, informing The Coloured people that the "Said Snyder was objectionable" for reasons that he would not assign, but urged The Coloured people to select some one else; They could not be induced to do so under any circumstances; They adhered to me, "Their choice" although there were other names presented for the office, and one in particular, who from the best evidence I can gather used every intrigue to secure his election and here let me remark "That I never sought the position in any way whatever, The fact is the few leading Rebel Citizens were determined not to allow, a Freedman's Court to be established here unless it was under their own control, I will now be as brief as possible in giving you the finale of the proceedings of forming a Court. It was now time to adjourn, which was done, and the Coloured People left for there respective homes, but there being some of the Colored people living in the village, these officials induced no doubt by a fear of the "would be" Leaders already referred to, notifies a small portion of the Coloured People to meet them that night at the Provost Marshall's office, when they might there arrange matters. The meeting took place; about 20 to 30 Coloured Citizens were present, to gather with two or three provoked Rebels, and after much maneuvering and soliciting, by the above mentioned white citizens together, with the present military authority they induced

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-16 09:53:42