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Washington, D.C.

General;

Herewith I have the honor to transmit a copy of a communication this morning received from Maj Gen George H. Thomas.  As this property is expensive and such as is difficult to take care of, and all of it has been sold and most of it delivered by the Treasury agents, I shall not interfere with their delivering the balance, but simply direct my agents to receive some of the proceeds, that they may be paid over to the Navy Department, should its claim, for which I see no possible foundation, be allowed.  If you will have the goodness to send for Bt Lt Col Edward Wright, he can give you all the data necessary for decision and action in the premises.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Srvt
Bt Maj Gen'l.


Office Asst Coms'r
B.R.F. & A.L.
Mont.  Feb. 12th 1866

Maj Gen O.O. Howard
Coms'r &c
Washington D.C.

General:

Ever since the Courts of this State were reorganized, among the difficulties which affected Freedmen, have been the total want of ability to give bail, and indictments for offenses growing out of the war, many of which were committed during the jubilee occasioned by the coming of our 


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troops. 

Military orders property required that when the act was done in aid of the forces of the United States the prisoner be released by force of arms if need be.  In a few cases this remedy has been literally enforced, but in the vast majority it has been for obvious reasons impracticable to apply it.

Meanwhile, an Act of the Legislature had been procured by certain parties who are said to be concerned in the murder of Union men, authorizing the Governor to issue his pardon to persons indicated, without waiting for conviction.  And he was beset with applications, which he was averse to entertaining.

It occurred to me that this might be made to cut both ways, and I suggested to the Governor some days ago that he issue his proclamation of general pardon for all such cases as it was in consultation thought proper to embrace.

The idea was entertained, advice taken upon it, and I am assured that tomorrow the proclamation will appear.  It confers amnesty and pardon upon all persons for all offences committed during the war against the laws of this State, except the crimes of rape and murder.

This will let the freedmen about all go, while it will leave the Courts so free that there will be no reason to transfer from them to the Governor's office.  The trial of the parties who are said to have procured