, 1865-12-23

,ss't ses,; Gts9E md ''a 'ftiees Tor
afIi Ill Wbencser TIRE respectable negroes. hcsd.
Of mines. fhsn desire 10 sea,e on is.d, and sh.ll
have rejected for that purpose n island q locality
eleary defined within no !its ~ ag9se s, aSna Ga 9s
h;u-en OF by such subordinate o!Ieer - ne may
sppciuf c7e them Hce1se to settle suea Aiand OF
district aEd afo1d hem tuth asa1slaoce NJ uS ~
10 cuxbc them to establish peaceaolc 1sr1cutnial
asttIemsnt. TIE three parties psmed viii auodlnde
tho larl, under the supervision Of lhs inspector.
among themselves and such other. q may Enooss e
plot Of not nnore tasn t4} forty se1cs Of tlsoso
ground, and whcn 1t borders on some wafes enaa n
nel with not thsn 500 feet water ftoot ga sae
Wil a1nrd them protection, until such tim: .. theJ
can protect themselves. Or uotl ConsresB snaA rs
ulate their title. The t2uarter7aser may. On tne
reqn'sinop Of the Inspector Of Settlements md
Plantations plsce At lha disposal Of the Inspector,
one OF mora Of the captured steamers, 70 ply be-
tween the settlements and one or nozu of The eou1-
ford The settlers Ihe opportunity to supply thelr
nece~eszy wants, md 10 sell the products Of thetr
land md labor.
~ service OF tie Omitted Staep. be may locsto his
Guily In any one Of the settlements a. pleasure.
ard atuuIre homestead. and other r1Rhts and PRIV
fIecea Of ket,ler, As though present IN person.
In like u1urcr, nesroes NAV settle lhets families
aul tpcxge on board tho gnnboats. or IN d.hlng, or
in The navigation Of the 1nlsad waters, without
ffctn this system. But no one, uniass m actual
srtter IA above dehned, or unless ahseut On Gov
erumcui serylcc will pe entitled TO e!aim any night
to land er properly IN any settlement o1 sis'ae OF
V~ln order to c.1zy out this gSsteul OF sctas-
msnt cere1al officer viii be detatled - Inspector
be 10 visit the settlements, to regulate their police
and general management and who Will furnish PEI
eeEs5 sseh bed q ta, m ,7 s1sess 70 1s az
he Description Of toundazes; an.l who shall adjust
all ctnims conflicts that EAy arise under tbs snme
altogether Is posseesofy. The sans general oh!ccr
viii also be Charged with the cas stment and orgao-
,zaicn Of the negro recruits and Protecting thels
will be Governed b. the rules md regulations prc-
sGibet By the War pepaFto1en: for such purposes.
EBg Gsn sa5ten - y hssss oppo,nts int
viii At orce enter On tha performance of bis duties
No change Is intcrted desired IN the settlement
now On Beaufort Island, noe vii any ll:nts to
| prupetty heretofore uequ1ted be Affected thcrcby.
yoraer Of Major Genera! W: \: sherman:
Assistant Adju&ant General
In Virginia quite m amount Of lind was hbeQed,
and about to tc sold by The Marshal, just previous
were suspended by the sec7eta.Y o, Var. in order
Icr the bcnc1t Of the freedmen. I ctaimed shat
| these Iande, which hRd been Condemned to sale.
Est sstnslsy seta wsrc ascsy IL ~
cecncy, The President, against the insertion OF the
| word Sold" IN the definition OF condscate1 prop
crty. The President reftrzcd the matter 70 tho At
torney. General whezeupon, finally, the wort
Thjs dscipson necessitased the restoration Of al
haze teen sery desirous of conforming 10 The lot
fer OF the law, N setting apart !ands. bnt WIS IN
willing to do SO hefote It became probable tha
| theT could be retained. In this way, much disap
rointment and suffering would be avoided.
Ths freedmen were 30 eager for the possession 9
land, and so Likely, without tnat possession: Z
present homes, iGat I made the following psoposl
lion through yourself: l:
/ BUREAU OF RETC9EEs, FREEDMEN AND
| AcASpoSED LAyus.
lion. f. IS. sEssTos. Secretary ct War:
The eases ofpardonins thosc VITO hare lands alread
rtGer cult1yaiion hy Freedmen, Tor tie benefit o
this cass Of persons, hastng been presented to me
sncgestcd, by Distinguished od:ccr Of 1he army
which I heartily indcrscl. deem It best to com
bice these suggestions In The rol'owin. proposals.
1st- That hcrealser, partions Of tho President q
tbe ErtteI States, extended to thoec who aase beer
excepted in Aa proclamation Of May ~, 1865, ha7
conditioned by specific stipulation, ia each tndl
ridual ca=c; that the Lna owner agzce 10 &C.
aEazt, n1a srant ss, In fec simple, to each head
il es:en., rom, Axe to ten acrca. to be sc:uset
against alienation dunns The hfe time OF ~
grantee Ihs 'oeailen preclse extent aud @ othe, e
tc chosen By The interested parties, each selecting
one and tEr Two thssd.
"a. That otkcr Teesons, nat 2nd holders, be con
Is equivalent OF proper stipulation, 70 be deter
mined by q committed Of three, appointed BY th'
President 49,.
Major General, Commissioner.
felt quite eanguine TINT this course woaA pro