James A. Seddon to His Excellency Z. B. VANCE, March 8, 1864

His Excellency Z. B. VANCE, Governor of North Carolina:

Sir: Your letter of the 29th ultimo, addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, proposing that a commission be appointed to inquire of the depredations committed by the Fiftieth Regiment of the North Carolina Troops, and to allow the amount of loss sustained by any citizen to be credited on the claim of the Treasury for taxes, has been referred by him to this Department ”for consideration and reply.” The only reply this Department can make is that it has no authority to comply with the terms of the proposition. All that this Department can do is to direct an inquiry to be made for the purpose of ascertaining the persons who have committed the injuries and to control their pay and allowances for the purpose of affording compensation if they belong to the service.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,