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from the negroes and drive them away from the shore, and in the end they will do the same to Union men if they are not stopped. 

As regards the present condition of Justice in the County of Accomac. I have some further views to present. It is true that some few out of the many who have kept the County in a reign of terror during much of the last month are now under bonds to answer at the next court: but what does that amount to? A hint may be taken from the form of warrant used by the presiding Justice- a copy of which I annex. (Exhibit B) In that case the house was broken into at midnight without any pretence of warrant, and valuable property taken away, and converted to the use of the parties named- if this is not burglary, and of course a felony, it is hard to say what it is. Yet the Justice who issued the warrant, understood to have been prepared by the Commonwealth Attorney, recites that the accused persons did "unlawfully" but not feloniously brake and enter the dwelling home of the said George Phillips and take and carry away &c. In my several conversations with this Justice Lilliston, he showed very strong sympathy with the gang of criminals, and argued in their excuse if not justification: he was of the opinion that the affair was only a misdemeanor, and in fact only arose from a mistaken view of law. I have no doubt that their was an intention to slide over the cases by such an understanding. Now however from the publicity of the whole matter, perhaps from my own conversation

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-04 12:50:41 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-05 06:58:41 Confirmed by census documents of Accomac County that it is "Lilliston", not Silliston