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brought to their immediate notice by the Asst Superdt in person, And as that officer cannot be present and attend to all cases, owing to the extent of territory to be travelled over in this Sub Dist. I do not presume, but I know that a very large number of Freedmen's Complaints, one neglected by reason of the Magistrates indisposition to take cognizance of them, or their profuse and gratuitous advice to the Freedman to compromise the matter in dispute. This latter mode of adjudicating cases has become quite a favorite one with magistrates in this Sub District. And that it is injurious to the Freedmens interests. I have had sufficient evidence to convince me of,
Cases of Beating, Whipping, and Stabbing of the Freedmen are alarmingly on the increase in these counties,
And the Civil Authorities do not adopt the necessary measures to prevent a repetition of them. Should a Freedman be beaten by any party, he will have to wait fully six months for the Grand Jury to convene in order to obtain redress. In the meantime the Offender may leave the State or County if he desires and thus escape indictment or trial, though it is