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been made towards them. The magistrates take no steps to apprehend the criminals or quiet the people. Whenever they give any expression it is favorable to the violation of the law. The best evidence that can be adduced to show the inefficiency of the present Magistrates and the necessity for their removal and the appointment of others is this unanimous fear in every neighborhood of Union people, whenever they make efforts to establish Schools for Colored Children, or organize a loyal Church. 

Another fact is very apparent Viz: Freedmen are intimidated and can with difficulty be made to tell the truth before a Magistrate when it implicates a white man who claims to be respectable. This is a great obstacle to the detection of crime. It is only by assurance of protection by the Bureau agent or Mil. Courts. that they can be induced to tell what they know. This does not make their testimony credible with the Magistrate and so the accused escape. These facts go to show the necessity of more authority being conferred upon the Bureau Agent and a cooperation with the State so as that he could examine and hold

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-27 09:41:01