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Your obt Servt.
A.F. Higgs
1st Lieut & Asst. Supt

Asst. Commissioner
State of Virginia 
(Copy)

Mayors Office Charleston Jeff Co. W. Va. Nov 3rd 1866
Lieut. A.F. Higgs. Asst Supt &c. Freedmens Bureau. Harpers Ferry.

Dear Sir
I acknldge I assure you with much pleasure your letter of the 29th ultimo, expressed in terms so respectful and so nearly in accordance with my own sentiments, that but little remains for me to say in response. As to the disturbance indicated I know nothing of their origin, but little as their termination, and fear the magnitude of the affair has been much exaggerated, had the matter been brought before me I should have investigated in to its details, and so far as I had the power meted out to all the punishment which was due for violation of Law and order, regardless of colour or condition Without expressing any opinion as to the necessity or expedience of the Law under which your Bureau has been organized, yet you have so liberally construed its provisions, and so clearly indicated the duty of its Agents that I can make no dissent, but return my acknowledgments for the one, and hearty assent as to the other. It will be my pleasure to cooperate with your Bureau in the maintenance of Law and order in our community, and so far as I have the power shall be no respecter of persons, and more especially if I am required to take recognizance of the acts of those who incite the negroes (otherwise well and peaceably disposed)to lawless acts alike injurious to themselves and the community at large. I shall most certainly mete out the full measure of punishment, which State or Municipal Laws will justify, be they Jew or Gentile Yet with an exceptional disturbance as between some worthless negroes and carousing youth, (common to all communities), we never had more of peace and good order, and expressing as I believe I do this opinion of all good citizens, no patrol is necessary  to preserve the public peace, yet should this condition of things arrive I shall deem it my duty as a conservator of the peace to solicit your kind cooperation which you have indicated you would furnish. So far as I have been entrusted with the ministration of the law all shall be equally responsible for its violation, if in my power so to determine 

Respfy &c
sd John Aris
Mayor Charlestown

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