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Extract from the charge of Judge E. R. Watson to the Grand Juries of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Va delivered at the Spring Term of his courts commencing 1866. 

"You will preceive Gentlemen that thus far I have made no allusion to a class of laws which once occupied much of the time and attention of Grand Juries. I mean those which refered to Slaves and free negroes - All those have been swept away by the revolution through which we have passed and indeed the Legislation at its last session formally repealed them"

"On the other hand such other charges have been introduced into the criminal code as to place all offenders whither white or black upon precisely the same footing not only in regard to punishment but also as to the mode of trial made our former laws slaves were imenably [[amenably]] tried either by Justices in the County or by the County Courts setting as Courts of oyer and terminer without the intervention of grand or petit Juries and except in capital cases or cases of felonious homicide - free negroes were tried in the same way - now however it is your duty to make no distinction in your enquiries or your presentments on account of race or color - whatever offense it is your duty to prevent if commited by a whte man you should equaly punish if commited by a negro [[strikethrough]] without [[/strikethrough]] Whether he be a freedman or originally free - "

"The great change in our social condition and consequently in our criminal laws have devolved upon Courts and Juries duties
    

Transcription Notes:
waaay to many [[?]]s to be marked for review, pls fill in The phrase is "Courts of Oyer and Terminer": https://history.nycourts.gov/case/court-oyer-terminer-1788/