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BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN & ABANDONED LANDS,
Assistant Commissioner's Office, State of Kentucky,
Louisville, Ky., October 16th 1867.

CIRCULAR 

No. 7. 
The following extract from letter of Brevet Major General THOS. SWORDS, Assistant Quartermaster General U.S. Army, is published for the information and guidance of Officers and Agents of this Bureau investigating claims: 

ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, U. S. A., 
Louisville, Ky., June 6th, 1867.

BVT. BRIG. GEN. JOHN ELY
Chief Supt. Bureau R. F. and A. L. 
Louisville, Kentucky.

GENERAL:

If the claimant was in favor of supporting the government in the suppression of the rebellion and in opposition to all measures of the so-called Confederacy, it should be sufficient to fix his status as a loyal citizen and to entitle him to payment of any just claim he may have against the Government, without reference to his present opinions; particularly as the class of claims provided for by the act of July 4th, 1864, which are being investigated, are such as should have been paid at the time, and were not so paid through neglect of the Officer taking the property, want of funds or some other cause not within the control of the claimant. 
In regard to the manner in which the justness of the claim should be investigated, officers must be governed by the circumstances of the case; they should visit the premises and take such evidence of disinterested persons living in the neighborhood as they may be able to obtain; the value of the articles or price at which they were sold at the time, quantity taken, etc. 
These facts should be reported, and if the Officer is clearly of opinion that the claim is just, or unjust, he can so state.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed.) THOS. SWORDS,
Asst. Qr. Mr. General, U. S. A.