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NARA 202

Jackson Miss. Decr. 31, 1867

Maj. Thos. H. Norton.      
Sub Assistant Commissioner.

Sir-
I must ask you to excuse me for troubling you again, regarding the attachment of Dr. Dulaney against Wiley, Rankin & Salter.

- On application to the Sheriff, this morning, I find that a Board of Arbitration was called- "for settlement of accounts between James Wiley & others and Calvin Boddie & other freedmen, on the Boddie plantation"-; & that the Board awards to Salter, "the whole of the cotton from said plantation"- except 1312 pounds awarded to Jonas Boddie, freedman. I am informed that Jonas was found indebted to Salter, & that the Board gave to Salter nearly all of the cotton coming to Jonas from the firm. So that Salter obtains nearly the whole crop.

- The Sheriff also exhibited a note from Lieut. Huggins, which he regards as an order from your office to release the cotton from that attachment. I understood Lieut. Huggins, on yesterday, to say that he did not regard his letter as an order to the Sheriff; but that the latter was left free to act made instructions from Vicksburg. If such be the case, may I ask that instructions be issued to the Sheriff, to correct his error — otherwise injustice may be done.

- So far as the papers furnished from your office to the Sheriff, show, it does not appear that you had knowledge that Salter himself was one of the planters on the Boddie place. - His name is kept out of view in the order or Arbitration; but, in the award of the Board, he figures as principal supplyman & "merchant." Thus, it has been brought about that one of the partners engaged [[strikethrough]] engaged [[/strikethrough]] in cultivating the plantation, is made to figure as a stranger, who has furnished supplies to the firm, & he gets the cotton! - I suppose no one will claim that this could be done, properly,

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