American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-03-24

:
The subjoined correspon dence grew out Of a
letter and order from the ONCE OF the Acting
} Asst Commissi oner of the Bureau of Freedmen,
} Refugees and Abandoned Lands at Jackson,
dated, Feb. 18th, '66, addressed 'To the Hon.
Probate Court Madison County" and "To
Whom it may Concern The letter annulled the
article of apprenticeship of the freedboy Charles
Pitard, which had been regularly made out in
compliance with the statute, and announced the
fact that, hereafter, in all Eases brought to the
notice of the proper U. S. officers "all linden
lures binding colored minors in any other man
ner than that prescribed for white Minors"
would be annulled. The letter and order were
at once transmitted by the officer to whom ad-
dressed, to the Executive Office for investiga-
ton, with the result published below.
rr Executive OFFICE,
jackson, Miss Feb 10Th, 1866
GEM: | enclose you letter from the
Probate Judge of Madison County; also the
order and letter therein referred to, for your
decision in the matter.
The General Order of the It. Gen seems
to refer prosecutions for offenses" and
'punisbments," that are not equal in manner
aud degree. Does the idea, as contemplat.
ed by the It. Geu' exist in the Appren>
tice Law of Mississippi? If SO, the manner
of prosecuting the minor Of the two races,
does vary in this The Board of Police
prosecutes the white minor, (see Revised
Code, chapter xiii, sec. 5, art. l6 The
Judge of Probates proSecutes the black
MINOR (see Apprentice Act, Nov. 22nd,
1861 The punishment varies also. They
both have to work alike, and are subject to
similar treatment but at the end of their
serVitude the white minor receives 1.-TWO
suits of new clothing of substantial kind"
the black minor othing. During servitude,
however, both can be relieved from service,
fer wrongs done them by the master, the
white minor receiving nothing, and the
black minor may receive one hundred dol
lars. The discrimination seems to be in "a
vor of the black minor.
know nothing of the case of Charles
Pitard, or what wrong or injustice has been
done him, to call forth the humane interior
ence of the Freedmen's Bureau, but surely if
Lit. Col Donaldson's Interpretation of the Lit.
Genl's order is correct, the Apprentice Law
of Mississippi is a nullity. as no black mi
nor can be indentive in the same manner
and degree with white minor. SO also is
the law forbdding miscegenation nulIity,
as white man is fined 5000, while freed,
man is ouly fined $50 for the same offense,
which is not punishment in equal degree,
though the manner Of doing 1t, may or may
not be the same according to the taste Of
! the parties
Why the Legislature has Disseminated
thus in favo. OF the freedman is not for the
Executive to enquire, but to avoid collision
betw cen the military and civil authorities,
it is important for tn e civil officers to know
with certainty, whether these laws are to be
nufed
Very respectfully, your obed't serv't,
BEN G Humphreys, Gov. of Miss
MAJ. GEN. WooD,
Coed. Opt of Miss, Vicksburg.
BUREAU REFUGEEs, FREEDMEN ABAN'D)
LANDS OFFICE ASST CoM'R,
For the State Of Mississippi
Eicksbnrg, Miss, Feb. %, 1866
LIEUT.. COL R s. Donaldson,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, &c.
Colonel The papers in the case of the
freedman orphan, Charles P,tard, have beer
referred to me, coming through the office of
the Governor of the State and the Depart.
ment Commander From the papers in my
possession it is impossible for me to know
the reasons yon may have had for releasing
the orphan, Charles Pitard from the con
troll OF his master. Nothing but the most
convincing proof that the child was inhu-
manly treated should have caused you to
take any step for his release, and then, only,
after the refusal OF the Judge of Probate to
release him, on the presentation of facts, as
they were b fore you.
1t is the policy of the Bureau to reor-
ganizc the civil power Of the State to the
fullest extent, and iufuse into the minds Of
the freedmen respect for the civil officers
and government under which they must live
at no distant day.
1t is not desired TO nullify any State law,
but to soften the application of those parts
that may seem oppressive; and toiiuterfere
for the protection Of Freedmen only in indi
vidnal cases, when local predjudces may
cause the execution or judicial officers Of
the State to deny the Freedmen the rights
which we are here to secure to them
II you will examine the decision of Judge
Campbell attached to this paper, y,u will
see that be is willing to give the law an
that is liberal and Just. 1t
would be wrong for the Bureau to assume
any attitude that would njure this officers
influence. 1t is my opinion that the larger
number of Judges in the State would render
he same decisions; aud that only isolated
Eases occur, where the law is interpreted
,ppressively. You must remember, that it
S not the object Of the officers of the Bu-
'eau 10 bring on a conflict between them
selves and the State ofic ais; but it is to
secure the Freedmen protection for person
and property justice before the courts. aud
humane punishment for crimes, and that,
when it can be done through the State Of
icials, it is always preferable. 1t is but
reating them with due respect, to make an
fort to correct an evil throp-' lem, be-
ore any other method is ado, =.
Never treat them in any other way but
With courtesy aud respect, regardless Of
PERSONAL conduct. If they refuse to respect
1ou as an officer of the United States, or