The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-07

! GEN. HowARD's REPLY TO THE HOUSE OF REpREsEN-
TATIyEs The following is Gen. Howard's reply to a
resolution passedby the house of representatives asking
for information in regard to abandoned lands
In answer to the resolution of the house of repre-
sentatives of the Goth of December 1865, directing
the superintendent Of the freedmens bureau to inform
the house whether any real seized under the act
OF l7th july 1852 eneDys property and the title
OF which by that act vested in the United States
had been assigned allotted to freedmen for a resi-
dence and homestead by order of any department Of
the government and if So whether the same has been
restored to the rebel and the people of color
ordered Off and by whose authority and also whether
the abandoned plantations had been occupied and thus
restored and if known to the said superintendent of
the bureau to state under what pretence of authority
property once vested in the United States under the
conhscaton OF enemys not as traitors property was
taken from the United States but owned or CONQUERED
enemies. | have the honor to submit the following
information OF the number of pieces of property seized
and condemned under the act of January II 1864 and
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
Tor homesteads. No property of this character occu
pied by freedmen has been restored to former owners
large number of abandoned plantations have been
occupied by freedmen and in the States of South Caro-
lima and Georgia few plantations of this character have
been actually allotted freedmen as homesteads under
provisions of Gen. Shermans field order No 15 The
eCorus oI thlS ONCE snow that no plantations aot
ted have been restored to former owners Many aban-
doned plantations occupied by butnot allotted to freed
men, have been restored former owners but in such
cases care has always been taken to prevent suffering
resulting from such action
No property vested in the United States under the
contscation of the enemyS property has been taken
from the United States and bestowed on conquered
enemies. Evidence that property has not been ibeed
under the act of July IT, 1864, or if lbeed that the
proceedings against it have been dismissed by the
United States courts is always required before property
in the hands Of the bureau restored to the former
owEers.
1t is proper however, to state that the amount of
property held as enemies property, and the amount
actually allotted to the freedmen as homesteads is
very small proportion of the entire amount in the
hands of this bureau
The real property turned to its organisation
was seized for most part Abandoned and was in
tended not only to allot this freedmen but also to
use it as means of for the latter purpose It
had already become exceedingly useful and valuable to
the bureau and measures had been initiated to use
portions of il for the former purpose when on the
10th OF August instructions received to the effect
that abandoned property should be restored to former
owners, when pardoned under those instructions The
bureau has parted with the greater part of this pro-
pery Its tenure upon it has been rendered 50 uncer
tain that the steps taken to aot it to freedmen have
been countermanded in most instances and its revenue
has been so curailed that it is not sef-supporting
institution Respectfully submitted
.. o. HOWARD, Ma. Gen. Commanding