New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-09
ABANDONED LANDS.
vrpsrt Of Gen. Hownrd-Hisiory OF thei'
se;yuye and Subsequent Release y
Forr,er Owners-Their Settlement v
Freedmen.
WASHINGTON. Monday, Jan. 8, lss'

WASHINGTON. Monday. Jan. 8, ls''
The followingwas communicated to the Tose
to-day;
10 &s House Of Representatives. In answ 10 oo Ins
resolution of the House of Representatives t.e ~y' %
fDecopber 1865 directing the Supernterent VI @ sv
t'eeimens Bureau to inform this House ~ isGo ~
state seized under the oct of 18th of.Ls,, 80 V & @
property. and the title of which d ai az "ct I,t
in tic United States had been Ssis Ssaad hr ~ or1er
ga 10 teedmen for residence and hecee"" S ~ So
~ any department of the GOverse'cnIn, aIu - :, @ %
'hs.lef tLe same has been restored ond NV wSosr nm
ud the people Of color ordered 81 anu Dy Mnose aa
12' ~ and also whether the s,sS ssdS0Gd aud i Known TO
ne sild superintendent of t. buie, W s1u'9 .t =
@hn' p.etense OF authority prpeIy oee veteu III ID ts
e states under the cosfoO1, car , =. ri,ad States
HoiIs property was tatsn rom tne 'A''e" "'"'o'
Ehl bestowed or conquered eneMes- A.,
have the honor to subn the following Information:
the act p ReSe @Sp @ are oeceS BY
under the supervision Of this Bureau The records
u this Office do rot show however that only sueh
property he's been actually allotted to them Tor nome
stoGds. No property OF this character occupied by
hoedmen has been restored to former owners. large
number of abandoned plantations have been occupied
by freedmen and in the States of South Carolina ana
Georgia few plantations OF this character have heen
actually allotted 10 freedmen hOmesteGds under the
Eo7isions Of Gen. Shermans special fed order No 10
The records Of this Office show that no plantations so
allotted have been restored to former Many OF
tie abandoned plantations occupied by but not allotted
10 leedueo lave been restored to former owners but
SuGering resulting from such action. No property
vested in tie Uni.ed States under the oonfseaton of
enemies property, has beea taken from the
United States and bestowed on conquered
enemies. Evidence that property has not
been Moe.ed un2er the act Of July Il. 1904 or If H.
becd tia. proceedings against have been dismissed
by the United States Courts, ia always required before
property in tie hands Of the Bureau is restored 10
;oru.er owxerS 1t is proper, however, 10 state that
the amount Of property held as eneuieS property ana
rhe amount actually aute0 10 freedmen as homesteads
is very small proportion Of the entire amount IN the
hands OF this Bureau The real property turned over
70 Of is organization seized FOR the most Part as
abandoned II was intended not only TO auo this TO
freedmen but also 10 use il as a means Of revenue.
For the latter purpose il had already become exceed.
ingy useful and valuable to the Bureau and measures
had been initiated 10 use portions OT the former pur-
pose when OF tie 10Th of August, instructions were
received 10 the effect that abandoned property should
ie restored to former owners when psrdoned. Under
these instructions tie Bureau has parted with the
greater portion Of this property Its tenure upon has
been rendered uncertain that the steps taken to alo
1t to greeluen have been count eImanded IN most in
Stances and its ioverne has been curtaed that it is
not sek-Supporiac Institution. Respectfully sub
rGtted, @. q. HOWARD Nalor eleTa.,
Nasstag,oa, Jan. {. 1856.