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The indifference to his interests manifested by civil officers- his poverty stricken condition preventing his employment of competent command- his ignorance of the rules of evidence and of what is necessary for the protection of his interests all combine to examine me. That while in some of the Courts the laws respecting testimony is earned out in good faith etc. yet it were for better for the colored man that his case should be investigated and settled by officers or Courts made up of faces who were entirely independent of [[?]] sentiment, treat influences or foolish prejudices.

I am grateful to be able to state that the Criminal [[?]] at each of the Courts in this month were unusually small and I have no doubt from this fact in connection with other indications that