The free man's press., 1868-09-12
OUR LETTERS.
Columbus S 'ptr. 4th 1868,
DIR. Keith.
Dear Sir:


this town has been the scene of several exhit
itions novel to this section Of the country.
After the Reconstruction of the City Father
that Honorable body revised the town ordin
ances and in the revision passed some string
ent regulations in regard to the traffic in bee
hides; said regulations compel the purchase
to file, with the authorities within a certai,
number of days, bill of sale, from the owne
of the brand. The object of the law, is t,
protect stock raisers who have been suffering
severely of late, by the depredations of certain
light fingered gentry-unknown. Well tn,
new law is dlstasteful to the merchants, in a
much as it puts both seller and buyer to some
trouble, and as result has tendency tt
drive trade to neighboring towns. Severa
violations of the act, having come to the
notice of the mayor, he had the offenders ar.
raigned, tried, and though the cooperation
made out a clear case, the jury brought in a
verdict of not guilty thus virtually repeating
the law.
1t is stated that numbers of the jury openly
| asserted, that, that was their verdict in all
cases, to which the corporation was a part
This style Of proceedings not being paIata
bic to my Lord mayor that gentleman decided
to change the color of the jurymen and see
what would be the effect, and whether color
would prevent jury from rendering verdict
in accordance with the law and evidence.
A couple of weeks since two citizens got in.
to dispute, which lead to breach of the
peace; both parties were arrested, one was
fined, by the Recorder the other demanded a
jury.
COLoRED JURY.
The Recorder who set on the case ordered
the constable to summons colored jury.
Six of the most substantial colored men.
were empanuelled.
Then commenced scene between the rep.
resentatives of the bar, and courts which if the
accounts, both public and private are cor.
rect, would take a Dickens to describe and
Philadelphia lawyer from now till Christ.
mas to unravel the snarl they twisted the case
into. However, the case went to the Jury
and they found the offender guilty, thus es-
tabishing the fact, that colored people at
least, are in favor of executing the laws.
There was much opposition to the action
of the Recorder, and considerable excitement
prevailed, but all is now quiet. This is the
second colored jury that has set in this coun-
ty.
EXHIBITION OF THE COLUMBUS FREEDMAN's
SCHOOL.
| send you the programme of the first ex-
hibition of the Columbus Freedmen's School.
1t was complete success and evidenced
that the pupils are under the instruction of
teacher, capable and in every way worthy of
the confidence and support of the people.
Much taste was shown in the arrangement
and decoration of the stage. The nation
al colors were prominent, and Immediately in
the center, on the rear wall, was hung mag
nifcent colored, lfe-szed campaign likeness
Of Grant and CoIfax, the only thing in the /.
whole performance at all political.
So much merit was displayed by the entire
school, for all took part, that it would be
hard to tell who exceed. | cannot help
mentioning the names of few Of those who
took the leading characters.
The singing was excellent; the grand Ma
tional Hymn, as sung by the entire school,
will long be remembered by all those who
were present on the occasion, not only on &C
count of the music, but because of the effect
produced, by the assemblage of so many
pretty, happy faces.
THO fabian Washinotnn's Dream of