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0128

The accused was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

I am compelled to state that my confidence in Southern jurors as arbiters of the interests or destinies of freedmen when they are involved with whites, not original loyalists, is diminishing rather than increasing [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] I have discerned that Northern gentlemen who are respected by all classes equally, are very positive in saying that, bad as a colored man's chances are before these courts their own are even worse.

Jurors are mostly taken from the common ignorant whites, and are, truly, a picture for a philanthropist and a problem for the reconstructionist

From their new perceptions and aspirations there is no hope, and it is only their jealousy of the freedmen who are visibly marching up to higher intelligence prosperity and life that will effectually appeal to their selfishness so as excite effort and improvement, and that will demand & [?] a degree of consideration for the colored race.

I am General
With Great Respect
SC Armstrong
Supt Dist Va

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-30 10:42:52