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Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth City County, Va.
Fort Monroe, Va., 186

importance to the land owner, is and of vital interest to the freed-people thousands of whom would be deprived of shelter, of any kind during the most inclement months of winter, were the requirements of the land proprietors complied with.

The Freedmen's Court for this county is carrying out its labors, and successfully as the means placed at its disposal will allow. Its business has greatly increased and is augmenting daily. The white residents accept its benefits to quite as great an extent, (in proportion to numbers,) as the freed-people. The principal objection lies in the limited power of the Court, in inflicting punishment upon those found guilty of criminal offences; It is argued that, for the crimes of burglary, highway robbery, rape and others, of that class, a simple committal, (to the Military Prison as this station)for a period of three months, is entirely insufficient both as a punishment to the criminal or as a protection to the commonwealth; It is respectfully submitted, whether some steps might not