consequence of my youth and inexperience, I had serious doubts as to my
ability to discharge the duties of the office which at that time was one
of considerable importance.

Then the bond question loomed up, which was one of the greatest
obstacles in my way, although the amount was only two thousand dollars.
How to give that bond was the important problem I had to solve, for, of
course, no one was eligible as a bondsman who did not own real estate.
There were very few colored men who were thus eligible, and it was out
of the question at that time to expect any white property owner to sign
the bond of a colored man. But there were two colored men willing to
sign the bond for one thousand dollars each who were considered eligible
by the authorities. These men were William McCary and David Singleton.
The law, having been duly satisfied in the matter of my bond, I was
permitted to take the oath of office in April, 1869, and to enter upon
the discharge of my duties as a Justice of the Peace, which office I
held until the 31st of December of the same year when I resigned to
accept a seat in the lower branch of the State Legislature to which I
had been elected the preceding November.

When I entered upon the discharge of my duties as a Justice of the Peace
the only comment that was made by the local Democratic paper of the town
was in these words: "We are now beginning to reap the ravishing fruits
of Reconstruction."




CHAPTER II