Freedmen's Bureau Records: John W. Jordan to Orlando
Brown, May 31, 1868
Summary:
In his report, Jordan describes his efforts to mediate legal disputes between
whites and blacks in Augusta County in the hopes that it will "save much unkind
feeling between the races."
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office 4th Division, 9th
Sub-District, Virginia.
Bvt Brig
Gen. O. Brown
Asst
Comr &c
Richmond Va
May 31st 1868
Staunton, Va.
General
In compliance with Par VI Circular No 10 from Head Quarters Asst Comr. B of R.F. & A.L. Richmond Va. March 12 1866 relating to the result of the operation of the "Order" restoring to the "Civil Courts" jurisdiction over colored persons in the trial &c of criminal & civil cases I have the honor to report as follows, viz.
There were but few cases in which colored persons appeared as parties to the
action brought before the Courts in my Division during this month. While I am
convinced that these Courts
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cannot as a general thing be entrusted
with the class of cases alluded to yet this month I have no instances to report
wherein any injustice was inflicted upon a colored person by reason of prejudice
&c neither has my attention been called to any complaint coming from a
colored person reflecting upon any authority vested with the power of regulating
or instituting proceedings in criminal or civil cases.
Every effort is made by me to bring about peaceable & just adjudications
between all parties i.e. between white and colored and between the colored
themselves, thus preventing useless expense and unnecessary risks to the
freedmen -- This line of policy saves much unkind feeling between the races and
has evidently contributed [unclear: vastly] toward bringing them
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to a more just comprehension of each other.
The Criminal Dockets bear evidence of a marked decrease in crime as among the Freedmen and I hear of but few instances of theft and disturbances of the public peace complained of as being perpetrated by this class.
I am General
Very Respectfully
Your obt
Svt.
Jno W. Jordan
A.S.A. Comr
4th Div 9 Sub
District Va
