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Chapter 55: first appropriation by congress for the bureau; the reconstruction Act, March 2, 1867; increase of educational work
The year 1867 for the
Freedmen's Bureau was an eventful one.
The army appropriation by Congress for the year ending June 30, 1867, was made July 13, 1866, and contained the first formal appropriations for the support of our work.
The items of most interest were: for salaries, stationery, printing, quarters, and fuel, $308,200; for clothing and rations for distribution, $4,273,250; for medical department, $500,000; for transportation, $1,320,000; for school superintendents, $21,000; for repairs and rent of schoolhouses and asylums, $500,000; for telegraphing, $18,000. Total, $6,940,450. Hostile spirits thought almost $7,000,000 enormous.
By a law, of date March 2, 1867, the plan of Congress for a reconstruction of the
South had been passed over the
President's veto.
Its preamble read: “Whereas, no legal state governments or adequate protection for life or property now exist in the States of
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Georgia,
Mississippi,
Alabama,
Louisiana,
Florida,
Texas, and
Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace and good order should be enforced in such States until loyal and republican State governments can be legally established,” etc., etc. The law provided for five military
