G. B. Harleston to Richard Yates

Washington April 3 1864

Hon: Mr. Yates.

Dr. Sir

You now have it in your power to help the poor negro as well as the poor white man, by urging upon Congress to pass a stay law for this City & the District of Columbia.

As the law now is if a man is in arrears for Rent they walk in your House & take over the beds from under you. I have been served so myself twice my family stripped of everything. I beg leave to call your attention to this fact, & earnestly implore you to insist upon it being done. I should have called on you when you was here but have been confined to my bed for the past 4 months & God only knows whether I shall ever rise from it & I am anxious to have a law passed that will prevent my family from being turned in the street without an article of furniture to help themselves with -

Yours Respectfully

G.B. Harleston

Our friend Mrs Harrison has just buried her brother.

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Harleston. G B

Washington

April 3. 1864

Asks Govr. to urge upon Congress the necessity of passing a Stay Law for City of Washn and District of Columbia, there being at present no protection for Tenants of Houses -

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