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War Department
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and A Lands
Washington D.C. Dec 12th 65.

Colonel

In reply to your inquiry as to whether, should the Legislature of Virginia pass certain laws giving the right to sue & be sued in the courts to Freedmen, the Agts of the Bureau would be withdrawn from that State, Major General Howard directs me to inform you that the question of the continuance or withdrawal of the Bureau from the Southern States, rests with Congress; but you may be assured that nothing will be done 'till such laws are passed, and the people of Virginia manifest most clearly their intention of living up to them.

I am Colonel
Very Respectfully

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-15 10:39:02