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War Department
Bureau of Refugees Freedman, and Abandoned Lands
Washington September 29th, 1866.

Major Genl. Wager Swayne
Asst. Comr. Alabama

Dear General:
Since you wrote I have got a decision of the Comptroller of the Treasury as to whether the law would be so construed as to allow me to use the (45000 00) forty five thousand dollars or any part of it in accordance with the provisions of Section 12, of the Bureau Act.  He thinks it comes under the head of "proceeds derived therefrom" and that I will be clearly right in using it as you propose. Therefore you are authorized to continue your schools, keeping the expenses and accounts therefor entirely separate from all others.

I have nowhere else as as yet authorized the employment of teachers and I am afraid even in Alabama, your system may retard the development of home resources and energies.  The policy is to give (them) (the people) school-houses and require them to fill scholars and furnish teachers, getting all possible help from benevolent associations