Opinion of the Attorney General in Gen. Howard's Case
A dense legal opinion on the Freedmen's Bureau bonds scandal, weighing whether General Oliver Howard and his subordinates could be held liable for money stolen through forged bounty vouchers meant for black soldiers.
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The Cairo Bulletin · July 10, 1873 · Page 1
1 min readWASHINGTON, July 9.
Attorney General Williams has delivered an opinion in the case of Gen. Howard. He says the papers furnished him are incomplete, as not including the bonds of the commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau and its chief officers, and in other respects. The attorney general differs from the late Secretary Stanton, that bonds are not required from an army officer detailed to this duty. In response to a query as to what course shall be pursued in a case where considerable sums have been taken from the treasury by means of forged receipts and vouchers, for bounties due colored soldiers, and to what extent the commissioner and chief disbursing officer are responsible, he says the offenders can be proceeded against criminally and civilly, or against sureties responsible for their acts, by the government. The bond of ten thousand dollars required of the commissioner from and after October 31, 1871, does not cover any default prior to that date; nor is the commissioner liable for acts of his assistants under the act of 1866, but under the joint resolution of 1867 the commissioner is explicitly held for moneys paid under that act, and he is also responsible [...]
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