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discharge and leave for others to hire him no man will hire him and they construe the State law to mean that the negro shall pay a fine of twenty dollars for hiring himself out before he completes his contract. They even boast that they wont let them (cold men) work for them or any one else. The whole system is in a very bad shape they have no council or at least they seem to know nothing of their rights or duties. They are getting poor pay and many of them will be no better of next christmas than they were last. The civil authorities now refuse to execute judgments rendered by the Freedmens court they say, that was a military court and they have no right to do anything with it. They want to try cases over again, which I forbid, for I was satisfied if I did they would allow the man nothing. They had much better give the debt up than go to law for they always bring them in debt. It is my opinion that the Freedmens Court should be reestablished for the trial of all minor cases both civil & criminal.

Respectfully Submitted
W. F. White Capt
& Asst Supt 2d Dist

To 
O. Brown
Brevt Brig Genl & A.A.A.G.
Richmond Va.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-04 12:39:01 minor typo