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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Hd. Qrs. Asst. Comr State of Va,
Richmond March 12. 1866,

Circular No. 10.

I. The following portion of an Act, entitled "An Act relative to the testimony of colored persons." passed Feby. 28th. 1866 by the Legislature of Virginia, is furnished for the information of the Agents and Officers of this Bureau.

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That colored persons and Indians shall, if otherwise competent, [[strikethrough]] & [[/strikethrough]] and subject to the rules applicable to other persons, be admitted witnesses in the following cases."

[[strikethrough]] II [[/strikethrough]] 2. "In all criminal cases & proceedings at law or in equity, in which a colored person or Indian is a party, or which arise out of an injury done, attempted or threatened to the person, property or rights of a colored person or Indian, or in which it is alleged in the presentment, information or indictment, or in which the court is of opinion from the other evidence, that there is probable cause to believe that the offence was committed by a white person in conjunction or co-operation with a colored person or Indian."

Also, the following portion of an "Act to amend and re-enact the 9th Section of chapter 103 of the Code of Va. of 1860 &c"

"Be [[strikethrough]] t [[/strikethrough]] it enacted by the General Assembly, That any person having one fourth or more of negro blood, shall be deemed a colored person, and every person, not a colored person, having one fourth or more of Indian blood, shall be deemed an Indian.

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