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5146

ND July 10th 1871
James H. Dooley, Esq.
Richmond, Va.,

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

Sir:

In the absence of the Secretary of War, I have the honor to reply to the subject - matter of your letter of the 29th ultimo, that the authority under which the com'r of the Freedmen's Bureau still sells "Confederate States" property and appropriates the proceeds to the education of freed people, is that bestowed by the 12th section of the Act of July 16", 1866, and the Act of July 25th, 1868, which continues the Educational department of the Bureau until further legislation by Congress; and under this extension of the first named act, taking into consideration the intent and purposes for which it was passed, it is believed the Commissioner's action in selling the property referred to, was legal and correct.

Very respy &c
O.V.P.
c.c.