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that the recent laws of this State for the protection of Freedmen are dead whenever the interests of a white clashes with those of that Class. That Verdict has caused much dissatisfaction among the Freedmen, and for the first time since coming here, I have heard complaints and murmurings from them. The natural effect of it will be to intimidate Freedmen from asking for their wages, and induce the Vicious among them to seek for revenge instead of justice. 

I am in doubt whether I am at Liberty to command a constable to arrest parties and bring them before me -and as to what course I am to adopt when he refuses to do so. I respectfully ask to be instructed in regard to the matter- at the present I feel like a man in a quagmire-

Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
James Ashworth
Capt. V.R.C & Asst Supt. B.R.F & AL.
4th D. Va

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-25 13:19:30 Eliminated forced line breaks. Please read instructions. Completed missing text. "Freedmen" not "freemen"