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Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Hd Qrs Asst Supt 2d Dist
Amelia C.H. Va Aug 8th 1866

[[STAMP]]THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES[[/STAMP]]

Sir
In compliance with circular No 6 C.S. I have the honor to make the following report in relation to Powhatan County. That there were no cases brought up in court. One case was tried before a magistrate for breach of the peace in which the white man was clearly to blame and I am satisfied had I not have been present he would have come clean and this cold man sent to jail. but as it was they were both bound over.  Several days ago when the trouble took place the cold man came to me and I gave him a letter to Mr. Davis (formerly one of the bound) & they were going to put the cold man in jail without even a show of a trial; but Mr.
Davis insisted that I should be present, so they told the negro that he was bound over to keep the peace till court day. (which was false) From this trial I am satisfied that they think a negro has no rights they feel bound to respect. The difficulty originated in the white man beating the cold man's wife and runing her to her own house and then under taking to whip her. They do not recognize the right of a cold man to protect his family in his own house. I am satisfied that trials before single magistrates is a farce. There were a great many complaints of nonpayment & a number turned off without pay or settlement. Another wrong they are trying to establish, is that they discharge a man before his contract is up and unless they give him a writen