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7

when, naturally, in the result and commotion, the whole onus of the affair would have been set down to the account of the unfortunate Freedmen. Luckily, however, the two men believed their best safety lay in flight; and thus the bare facts in the case stand revealed. 

The condition of affairs at present is rather [[strikethrough]] pecuiar [[/strikethrough]] peculiar, and painfully precarious. Criminal and civil cause having now both to be turned over to the Civil Authorities, and military arrest - being circumscribed, the Bureau Officer can exercise, really, but very little authority, even to enforce the attendance of a conturnatious Citizen, should it be deemed expedient as I can understand, the seizure and sale of property for debt, such for instance as that owed by Jamir, is no longer tolerated. The evil disposed seem to be fully aware of all this, and they let slip no available opportunity of taking the utmost advantage of it. 

Were it attainable, it were to be desired that an Attorney at Law could be retained as Solicitor of the Bureau, whose duty it would be to see that all cases of Freedmen were brought up and regularly conducted before the proper tribunals. Or some such authority might be [[?]]sted in the military officers now on duty in the Bureau, a provision being made for attendant concurrent and incidental expenses. 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-27 10:46:05