Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-01-19
FREEDMEN's MFsTEADs-REPOR
OE MAJOR GEN HnWARn

UT W hJOh OEN. 1ON AMI
The following was communicated to the
House Jan. 8.
a" To the House of Representatives
In answer to a resolution of the House of
Representatives, of the goth of December,
1865. directing the Superintendent of the
treedmen's Bureau to inform the House
whether any real estate seized under the Act
of the 18th Of July, 1862, as enemies proper
ty, and the title of which by that Act was
vested in the United States, had been assign
d or allotted to freedmen for residence and
homestead, by order of any department of the
Government, and, If SO, whether the same has
been restored to rebel owners and people of
olor ordered off, and by whose authority
nd also whether abandoned plantations have
cen occupied and thus restored; and, il
nown to said Superintendent OF the Bureau,
0 state under what pretence Of authority
roperty once vested in the United States,
.nder conhscation of enemies, not as traitors
roperty, was taken from the United States,
nd bestowed on conquered enemies-I have
ne honor to submit the following informa-
ion -
A number Of pieces Of property seized and
ondemned under the act OF July II, 1864,
re occupied by freedmen under the supervs-
IN Of this Bureau. The records of this office
o not show, however, that any such proper
has been actually allotted to them for home
teads. No property of this character occu-
lied by freedmen has been restored to the
,ormer owners. A large number Of abandon
d plantations have been occupied by freed
men, and in the States of South Carolina and
Georgia few plantations of this character
nave been actually allotted to freedmen under
the provisions of Gen. Sherman's special field
order, No. Is. The records of this office
show that no plantations so allotted have been
restored to their former owners. Many of
the abandoned plantations occupied by, but
not allotted to freedmen have been restored to
their 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 confs-
cation of enemies property has been taken
from the United States and bestowed on con-
quered enemies. Evidence that property has
not been libelled under the Act Of July l7th,
1864, or if libelled that proceedings against
it have been dismissed by the United States
Courts, is always required before property in
the hands of the Bul eau is restored to the
former owners. Ii is proper, however, to
state that the amount Of property held as en-
emies property and he amount actually al
lotted to freedmen as homesteads, is a very
small proportion Of the entire amount in the
hands Of this Bureau. The real property
turned over to it at its organization was seiz-
ed for the most part as abandoned. 1t was
intended not only to allot this to freedmen,
but also to use it as means Of revenue
For the latter purpose it had already become
exceedingly useful and valuable to the Bu-
reau, and measures had been initiated to use
portions for the former purpose, when on the
10th of August instructions were received to
the effect that abandoned property should be
restored to the former owners when pardoned
Under these instructions the Bureau has par
ted with The greater portion OF this property.
Its tenure upon it has been rendered 80 un-
certain that the steps taken to allot it to
freedmen have been countermanded in most
instances, and it's revenue has been so con-
tracted that it is not self supporting in-
stitution.
Respectfully submitted,
o. o. Howard, Major General.
In Senate, Jan. 10, message was received
from the President stating that JEFF. Davis
has been indicted for treason, but that Chief
Justice Chase has not yet determined wien