Viewing page 129 of 248

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

War Department
Bureau. R.F. and A.L,
Washington. Aug. 16. 1865

Respectfully returned. This church property could not well be confiscated on account of disloyalty to those who hold it in trust for other persons
The Trustees are not the owners of the property. They have not a vested interest. The only legal remedy is to take the case into a Court of Chancery, and have new Trustees appointed, of if free colored people can hold property under the laws as they now exist, have it transferred to them 
by deed of the the Trustees
This of course in case that the freedmen subscribed for, and are the real owners of, the property.

By order of Maj. Genl. O. O. Howard.
Commissioner, &c.
Wm Fowler
Bvt. Major & Asst. Adjt. Genl.

L.R.-B17.-EB.-26.
Recd Bu RF&AL July 22/65
2.B. 199,
Rcd Hd Qrs A.C Richd Aug 1865

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-14 17:30:45