Viewing page 151 of 239

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

0150

Clarksville Va
22d April 1866.

Col: Jas. W. Powell Jr
Asst: Supt: &c.
Clarksville Va

Sir

Your communication, in regard to the action of the County of Mecklenburg touching paupers &c, is before me, and I take pleasure in furnishing you with all the information, in my possession, on the subject.  The County Court, at its last levy term, declined to lay a poor levy upon the tax payers for the maintenance of paupers and at the same time directed the Sheriff to rent out the poorhouse property for the year 1866, which has been done.

You ask "will the Board undertake to provide for the maintenance of destitute Colored persons in this County &c".  In reply I can only say that, no levy having been made there are no funds in the hands of the Overseers for the maintenance of these destitute colored persons, what action the Court may take, in this matter, at its next levy term, of course I am not authorized to say.

You ask "what rule of action does the Board propose for their own government on the subject of colored paupers". I do not know that they, as yet, propose any rule on the subject, nor do I understand how they could.  Under the operation of the "Freedmans Bureau" colored persons are not presumed to be known in our law. True our Legislature at its last session, placed all persons, without distinction of color, on the same footing before the law, but this

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-18 13:22:09 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-18 17:20:18 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-18 18:59:33