The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-12-05

reflections, the result OF his experience
| transmit his letter with this message, and
commsndhis suggestions to your considsra-
tion.
Ii has been the policy Of the General
Assembly, since the ordinance Of emanci-
patton, to so reform our laws, as to personal
rights, that no distinction should exist to
the prejudice Of the blacks. L find some
distinctions still exists to apprenticeship,
inadvertently overlooked | presume. Our
laws require the binding Of white females
to the age Of eighteen, and colored females
TO the age Of twenty one years; and power
is conferred on the court to bind as appren-
tice, "the children of free negi oes. when
the parents with whom such children may
live, do not habitualiy employ their time
in some honest industrious occupation"
There is no provision Tor binding white
children so neglected by their parents. |
hope the law will be SO altered as to abolish
these determinations. and all others, il any
others be found TO exist.
embarrassing difficulty. as TO the bind
ing Of negro children. has lately presented
itself. was notified by citizen, 10
whom negro children had been bound as
apprentices by the county court, that he
had been notified by an officer OF the freed.
mans bureau, that such binding would not
be respected, and that he was required 10
surrender such children, the indentsres
having been declared null by authority Of
the officers of the bureau, had no previous
nuiice that such interference was contem-
plated. In reply TO letter Of inquiry
which | sthereupon addressed TO Breyet
Major General Robinson, the Assistant
Commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau
in this State, he sent me copy Of the or.
der under which his subordinate acted, in
these words: {" The civil courts will not
be allowed TO make any discrimination be-
tween whites and blacks, in The appren.
ticing oi children. No child whose parents
are able and willing 20 support it. can be
bound without the consent OF the parents
children over fourteen years Of age will mol
pc bound out as apprentices under any cir
cumstances. Col. Rutherford will see that
The above rules are strictly carried out, and
will at once cuncei all indentures not made
III conformity herewith" This order, il
carried INTO effect. substantially annuls, as
| conceive, The powers OF our courts over
minor children Of color. The correspon-
dence on the subject IS not concluded.
hope the order will be revoked. As soon
as final decision shall be reached will
communicate il to you.
SOON after the adjournment Of our Con-
veniion. addressed 4 communication "a
General Robinson. calling his attention 10
the fact that our laws had been 50 reformed
that no discrimination existed as to the adj
ministration Of justice, 10 the prejudice ol
tree persons OF color. He promptly issued
an order. copy Of which accompanies this
communication, dated July the 18th. 1866
restoring 10 our courts, with one exception
all cases TO which freedmen are parties.
This order relieved our people IRON one
source OF great annoyance. II has been
faithfully observed on the part Of the bu.
reau, aud the power so Justly and wisely
exercised by our courts. that nobody nov
doubts that the change of jurisdiction was
a proper one.
Our anomalous condition. the boundaries
OF jurisdiction between the military aud
civil authorities being lily defined. has et
TO much correspondence between the Er'
ecutiye aud Military Compandants OF th'
State. II is spread out on my letter book
subject TO your inspection. ltshows, as
think, a disposition on both sides. TO a'u''
unnecessary conflict.
For time was distressed by portion
Of our people, who, by petitions addressed
10 the President and otherwise, charged
upon our courts partiality and favori,ism
to the prejudice Of the United States sol
diers and negroes ; aud by reports tending
to the same end. made to me BY the mill
tary commandant Of the State, GOVERN,
com plants made to him. by certain Of ou
citizens. who represented that they coul'
not have justice in our courts. lnvest'sa
tion has shown these complaints to hav'