Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-13

The following vas communicated to
the House on the eighth
To The House Of Representatives:
In answer to the resolution of the
House Of Representatives of the twen-
tieth Of December, eighteen hundred and
siXtY-five, directing the Superintendent
Of the Freedmen's Bureau to inform this
House whether any real estate seized
under the act of July seventeen, eighteen
hundred and siXty-three, as the enemy's
property, and the title Of which, by that
act, was vested in the United States, had
been assigned or allotted to freed
men for a residence or a homestead by
order Of any department of the Govern
ment, and If 80, whether the same has
been restored to the rebel owners, and
the people Of color ordered off, and by
whose authority, and, also, whether the
abandoned plantations had been occu-
pied, and thus restored, and If known to
he's said superintendent Of the Bureau to
state under what pretense of authority
property once vested In the United States,
under the c-OnfisCatiOn Of enemies, not as
traitors property, was taken by the
United States, but owned or conquered
enemies, have the honor to submit the
following information Number of
pieces OF property seized and condemned
under act of January seventeen, eighteen
hundred and siXty-fiye, are occupied by
freedmen under the supervision of this
Bureau. The records Of this office do not
show, however, that only such property
has been actually allotted TO them for
hOmesteads. No property OF this
character, occupied by freedmen, has
been restored to former owners. Alarge
number of abandoned plantations have
been occupied by freedmen, and In the
States of North Carolina and Georgia a
few plsutations of this character have
been actually allotted to freedmen as
homesteads, under the provision of Gen.
Sherman's field order, number fifteen.
The records Of this office show that
no plantations so allotted have been
restored 10 former owners. Many
plantations are occupied, but not
allotted to freedmen have been restored
to former owners, but in such cases care
always been taken to prevent suffer-
ing resulting from such action. No
property vested in the United States
under co~nfiscatiOn Of the enemy's prop
erty has been taken from the United
and bestowed on conquered enc
mics. Evidence that property has not
been ibelled under the act OF July
seventeen, eighteen hundred and sixty
four, or if libelled, that proceedings
against II have been dismissed by United
states Courts, is always required before
property in hands of bureaus is restored
% former owners. 1t is proper, however,
o state that the amount Of property held
IS the enemy's property, and the amount
allotted TO freedmen, as home
teads, is very small in proportion 70 the
.ntire amount III hands of this Bureau
Real property turned over TO it at Its or
,anizatiou was seized for most part as
ABANDONED. 1t was intended not only
o allot this to freedmen but also to use
{ as means of reserve for the latter pur-
,ose. 1t had already become exceed
.gly useful and valuable 70 the Bureau, ;
nd measures had been initiated to use
for the former purpose, when,
II the sixteenth of August, Instructions
received 10 the effect that
bandoned property should be re-
lrned 10 former when par !
oned. Under those instructions the /
has parted with the greater part l
f this property. It's tenure upon IL has I
rendered SO uncertain that steps q
to allOt it to freedmen have been q
Duntermanded in most instances, and \
S revenue has been SO curtailed that il 4
not a self-suppofting institution. Re- {
)ectfully submitted. L
(signedl o. 0. HOWARD. q
Maj-Gen. Commanding. y
WAsHINGrCN, jar. S, 1865. -