American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-01-04

intr"sts the security of life snd property u
70 Judge. To empower tho loo al maxistrstes
s9 srrestss vsersat1.all persons .ssiih out sisi.
o'e mesps OF support. renld nd dbubt lead "a
acts ofiniu.tice but che civil nathori,ies ~.
ing Recognized and intfus,ed with The exeer.
ton OF Me civil law. collection 81 ,axss snd
ahe care Of the poor, IL wouid seem to be I
Necessity consequence that as protection Ia
tne community hey shall have authority to
compel oil s~hoare ableso support them selves
aud TINS prevent, hem FROM ,beeomrng burs
den upon Me commuhity. To deny the civil
authorities the exercise Ofthis right is to place
tne freedmen above the recognised government
o. he Stale. esa EEFfN - HTt
Tits . matter Of very grave doubt whether
in the present condition Of affairs, the civil
authorities. unaided by the military, will b.
shl" to maintain order and execute the law.
Civil proce,s can only He served in the orsi.
nary manner. where offenders m<s the exeep
ton and the law 10 sustained by public opin i.
ion but in the present ruined condition. of
labor in this State thousands are without !.
Dor, and must snbsist conseq usntly. depre.
dation is the rule. and honesty the exception.
while. on the other hand, to treat "a Migrants
four, 6tths Of the community is, sim .ly in
practicable.
Butthe.ear are matters sor your consideration
and Of the law making power rather thsn for
me, whose functions ere entirely executive,
and TO you ! submit the case merely with the
surmise that it will he impossible to inaueu.
rate any system for the relief Of the blacks
which Is unanim 'usiy appfo we'd by the whites
There is smother subject worthy ofat.ention
in this connection. There seems to be swide.
spread belief. which is daily increasing among
the freedmen, that the land in this State 10 to
he divided and distributed among them. and
in some seeiions df the Stsie this illusion IL
assuming q practical form ny the freedmen re-
fusing to contract fn1 hs eext year. or to leave
the premises they have cultivated this year.
1t is feared that this course induced by evil
advisers, may lead to collisions. the
extent and result Of which it is difficult to
surmise. No. .... D.
receive almost daily petitions and m emo:
rails asserting the existence Of orssnized com.
panies Of freedmen. and asking the . essence
and proteetion Of treoRs. and Although am
satisfied that these representations are eenev-
ally the result Of fear and exaggerated rumors,
yet the existence of such -rgan ixations In |
some sections Of the Ststs 10 certain. Com.
manders Of troops aud agents Of the Bureau |
have heen instructed TO urge, upon tho freed
men the absolute necessity Of aba.aining from
srmed demonstrations. thst they will be pro.
lectcd in all their rights; but that they must
aot seek redress BY force of violence. h..
In order to avoid asfar IS possible bringing
he races in collision with each other, have
advised that whenever practicable the pos sc
to sssist imam arrest shallbe Of the
Ame race As the person arrested. 70 lf. ilIs.l q
! am. General, very respectfully. yourobe-
lient servant. ,
rrf-rf ..'' AEvAs @. GrLIrx,
Brsvet Major General. Commissioner.