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explanation of Par. VII Circular No. 5 issued by Maj. Gen. Howard

How is it as to Refugees and Abandoned lands. The reasons that exist for the jurisdiction of case between freedmen by the Bureau do not apply to Refugees nor Abandoned lands, and hence the Bureau has no where provided for adjudication upon differences between Refugees or Refugees and other white persons, nor upon the confiscation of Abandoned lands. The Bureau only assumes to control abandoned lands to the extent of leasing them, leaving to the Federal Courts which have ample jurisdiction all questions touching their confiscation. And is insistant the Bureau has no jurisdiction of cases arising between Refugees or Refugees and other white persons, and that it has never assumed such jurisdiction, but has only ministered to their wants, given them temporary homes upon abandoned lands, in a word it has been so far as the Refugee is concerned but the [[?]] of the Nation's Charity.