But
the work was one entirely different from anything which had
been accomplished by government agency in the country before.
He purchased tracts of land, which were divided into building
lots, which were sold to the colored people. Money was advanced
to them to build houses, the Freedman's Bureau taking a mortgage
as security. The Bureau endowed Howard University, of which
General Howard was made President. A large Congregational
Church was built in Washington with moneys advanced by the
Bureau, the religious society giving its bonds at seven per
cent. for which the structure was ample security. General
Howard had incurred the bitter animosity not only of the enemies
of the negro race, who disliked the whole object for which
the Bureau was founded, but of other persons whom he had offended.
I believe in no instance was there any loss to the Government,
or to the fund in his charge. He was able to establish in
comfortable homes, and to educate and to provide work for
many thousand freedmen who had flocked to Washington during
the disturbed period immediately following emancipation.
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