Yours of July twenty-eighth received. This department could not appoint you a Notary Public over the protest of such men as Judge Allen, Mr. Collins and Mr. Rouse. This department would not appoint any white man to this position over the protests of such men as these. You say in your letter that you got the endorsement of thirteen white democrats, men in good standing in this county, and that you forwarded the same to this department. So far as my recollection goes no such endorsement was ever received by this department. I received a letter from you in which you referred this department to a number of men in your county but no endorsement from these men was received and I wrote you stating that you had misconceived the position of this department concerning this matter. It is not the business of this department to initiate an investigation concerning the fitness of anyone for appointment as a Notary Public. We require that anyone applying for commission as Notary Public for the first time shall furnish the department a certificate from at least two well known men from the county in which he lives that he is a man of good character and worthy of appointment. This department has appointed since the first of January at least three colored men as Notaries Public. They gave the endorsement of two or more good men certifying that they were alright, and there were no objections made to their appointment by anyone. Your case is different. There are good men in your county who protest against your appointment, therefore, this department must decline to appoint you, not because you are a colored man but because good men protest against your appointment.

I am returning your check herewith.