Freedmen's Bureau Records: Thomas P. Jackson to
Orlando Brown, October 31, 1867
Summary:
Jackson's report notes that it is especially difficult for freedmen to receive
fair settlements in cases brought against their employers.
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office 4th Division, 9th
Sub-District, Virginia.
Brigadier General O.
Brown
Assistant Commissioner
District of Virginia
Richmond (Through Headquarters 9" Sub-District
Virginia)
October 31st 1867
Staunton, Virginia,
General
In compliance with Circular [deleted: Ord.] Number [added: 10] [deleted: 6] (Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands) Series 1866 I have the honor to report that during the month of October at the several trials in which the rights of Freedmen were involved, equal justice was accorded, but in matters of controversy between Freedmen and their employers it is nearly impossible to exact justice as the employees are too poor to avail themselves of legal process in the courts, and much of the evidence in proof of their accounts is powerless against the book accounts of employers.
Everything I see goes to show that if not check existed on the action of courts & justices, Freedmen could not obtain justice in this Division.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Thomas P. Jackson
Agent
