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exercising our influence over the freedmen, for their especial benefit.

It is likewise often complained of, that freed men are in the habit of deserting their families - leaving them to fall as a burden on the community. I will acknowledge that this has occurred, in the instance of some evil disposed parties: but just here is where a grave defect in the Civil Law is exhibited. Neither the Commonwealth nor the individual is suitably protected in this. The only cause left open in the premises, is for the wife to either sue for a support, or, in case of a criminal connection having been contracted by her husband, to have him indicted; but this takes time and in the interim, the culprit may leave the State; besides this, the proceedings to be instituted in either event, [[strikethrough]] require [[/strikethrough]] are of such a nature as to require somewhat more capacity than is at present possessed by the colored race; whereas, did the authority exist whereby a Magistrate could, on complaint being made before him (as in the instance of a woman swearing an illegitimate child on its father), issue a warrant for the arrest of the party accused, and recognize him to appear either before the Court to be properly bound over, or before the Grand Jury for endicted, as the case might be - it seems to me the matter would be at once corrected. At present, however, it appears as if an invitation were held and to, &. that such misdemeanors were licensed, from the very fact that they seldom or never meet with punishment.

There is, however, one unfortunate fact which will possibly admit of no cavil - Viz. that the sensuality prevailing, among the colored people themselves - between the white males and colored females - among the poorer classes of the whites themselves, and, lastly, even between the

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-09 22:29:38 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-10 13:22:53