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[[preprinted]] 100 [[/preprinted]] 227 Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen &c Hd. Qr. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh N.C. March 29" 1866. MacRae D.G. Esq. Sir I am much obliged to you for attending to the duties of the office in Fayetteville. I hope to send an officer to that post very soon. Meantime please to continue to do what you can to prevent any trouble between freedmen & others. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Commissioner See L.R.M.73 - E.B.p.166 [[line across page]] 228 Howard Bvt. Brig. Genl. C.H. A.A.A. Genl Sir I have no transportation orders "the approval of which is dated". All are simply approved without date. Accept my thanks for the orders to cover my traveling expenses. I know of no officer who is authorized to sign his own such orders i.e. order himself to travel except Genl. Meade, & it required a Special Act of Congress in his case if I recollect rightly. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Commissioner See L.R.W.164. [[line across page]] 229 Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen &c Hd. Qr. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh N.C. Mar. 30" 1866. Rogers S.H. Dear Sir In Feb. last year James N. Beal of Franklin Co. was arrested on a complaint for larceny, & brought before an officer of this Bureau, who found him (Beal) guilty and sentenced him to pay a fine of $100. I disapproved the sentence & ordered the fine restored, on the ground that the officer had no jurisdiction in the case, the accused being a white man & the property stolen belonging to a white man. It was urged that no Civil Court could convict, because the case turned upon the testimony of negroes. Now it occurs to me that this might [[underlined]] now [[/underlined]] be tried, & made a test case in order to secure a decision respecting the Law of the State as regards negro testimony. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Commissioner [[line across page]] [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 101 [[/preprinted]] 230 Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen &c Hd. Qr. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh N.C. March 31" 1866. Cilley Col. C.A. Supt. &c. 229/232 Col. Your paper with endorsement has been forwarded to Dept. Comdr. & will I think be satisfactory. I can see no objection to a man's working out a fine imposed if he prefers it to imprisonment. I hope Genl. Ruger will soon issue an order forbidding the whipping & which Civil Courts so love to resort. Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Commissioner See L.R. C.106. [[line across page]] 231 Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen &c Hd. Qr. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh N.C. April 2" 1866. Wickersham Maj. Chas. T. Supt. So. Dist. 222/ Maj. In reply to your communication of March 30 1866, I am directed by the Asst. Commissioner to say, - 1" That it is considered impossible for the Bureau to supply rations for the carrying on of farms. The system of taking a leien upon the crops does not succeed. 2" Women with large families of children, who are themselves able to work, but who cannot support their children, should bind out their children. Although the children will not be bound without the consent of parent or parents, yet it must be impressed upon the minds of those parents that they will not receive a support from the Bureau for such children. You will use every exertion to reduce the issue of rations so that only the aged and infirm & actually helpless shall be supported. Very Respectfully Fred H. Beecher 2" Lieut. 3" Inf. and A.A.A. Genl. See L.R. W.167. [[line across page]]
