Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar to William W. Belknap, 18 January 1870

January 18, 1870. Hon. Wm. W. Belknap, Secretary of War Sir: I return the papers which you handed me this morning. The questions which the Committee on Military affairs of the House of Representatives wish you to submit to the Attorney General for his opinion, have, as I think, already been submitted to this Department, and an opinion upon them given by the Hon. O. H. Browning, my predecessor in office. That opinion was transmitted to the Hon. J. M. Schofield, Secretary of War, under date of June 16, 1868, and is undoubtedly on file in your Department. A copy of it would probably answer the purpose of the Committee. I do not suppose that it has been usual, or is proper, to submit a second time to the Attorney General questions upon which an opinion has once been given. Very respectfully, E. R. Hoar, Attorney General.