J. Hubley Ashton to J. M. McKinney, 14 August 1865

Attorney General's Office. August 14, 1865. J. M. McKinney, Esq. Acting Solicitor of the Treasury. Sir: I return you the letter of Mr. Keasbey enclosed in your communication of the 10th inst. The Marshal, in buying the property for the United States, must have acted under some lawful authority which will inform him, it would be presumed, to whom the deed in question should be made. As this Office gave no instructions on the subject, and can exercise no authority in the premises, it cannot undertake to express an opinion on the question presented by Wm. Keasbey, under the present circumstances. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully J. Hubley Ashton, Ass't Att'y Gen.