Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-08-04
'paties Or the Freedniars Bureau
HBpRkAu RErodEEs, AND AsxsbosEDi LANDS, |,
once Of Asst C0u7f Rg,l TENN and Nor. Ald.,
NASHVILLE FESN, July ~, 1887


NASHVILLE TESS5s July "a, lse5.gf
r.. -, -s-sss--s---------
W. H. Il an Sar,ios , J S9l ne
following facts relating to the establishment Of this
Bureau by Congress together with rules and regu-
Iations prescribed for its government are Published
4 Estabh bhshsaert Of The Btrsd,t--An Act OF Con-
efess, approved Mnrch Sd, 1855 established in the
| War Department Bureau Of Refugees Freedmen
and Abandosed Lands, to which was committed
\ ltEe supervision and msnagcment Of all abandohed
lands and the coatroi Of all subjects relative to the
refugees and freedmen from the rebel States, or
from any district Of couatEy within the territory
embraced IN the operations Of the army under such
rules and regulations as might be prescribed by the
head of the Bureau, and approved by the President
Congress further enacted that the Commissioner Of
this Bureau, under the direction OF the President
shall have authority to set apart for the use Of
loyal refugees and freedmen, such tracts OF hand
within the nsurrectonary States as shall have been
abandoned, or to which the United States shall have
acquired title by conscatior, sale, otherwise
and 10 every male citizen whether refugee or freed
man. as aforesaid there shall not be assigned more
than forty acres of such land and tie person to
whom Il Is 50 assigned shall be protected 10 the use
and enjoyment OF the lands for the term Of three
j years at an annual rent not exceeding six per cent
npon the value of such laud as II was appraised By
the State authorities in the year eighteen huAdred
land sixty for the purpose Of taxation. ~
/ AT the end Of said term, or at any time during
said term, the occupants Of such parcels Of land
may purchase the same and receive title thereto as
the United States can convey upon paying therefor
the value Of the land ascertaned for the purpose
Of determining the annual rent as aforesaid. ~
| Abandoned Properly y--All property real or per-
sonal, nom which the lawful owner has been or is
! voluntary absent and engaged, or has been, in
arms or otherwise aiding or encouraging the hrebe-
ion, has been declared by Congress to be abandoned
/ Organisation Of The Bnredu.-The President of
the United States, by General order of War Depart
meht dated May ~, 1895, organized the Bureau
and appointed as its head q Commissioner, Major
Cen D. OHoward, y The undersigned was appoint
ed Assistant Commissioner for the States Of KEN
lttucky and Tennessee, and North Alabama, with
4 Headquarters at Nashville. ags 79G s.@s o. hflih
i The District will be sub-divided and agencies Of
the Bureau established at points easycf access to
the citizens - itsN ,rys a1ne 10 ;s1Eiiob svl
TIE Work of Me aBureaa--Thef work ofithe
Bureau will be the promotion OF productive Indus
try, the settlement Of those lately slaves in
homes Of their own, with the guarantee Of their
absolute freedom and their right to justice before
the law as set forth in tho proclamations Of the
President and the laws of Congress; the dsseminsE
tion Of various intelligence, and 10 aid In perma-
nently establishing peace and securing prosperity
II Compensated Labor or--Every effort win be made
to render the people sefsupporting, and iti be-
ieved that this can be easily done ifathe introduce
ton Of practical schemes Of compensated iaor into
every section of the Country is welcomed in good
faith and receives the hearty encouragement Of the
The freedman must be free to choose his own
employer No fixed rates Of wages will be pre-
scribed. No fed rates of wages win be prescribed
The agents of the Bureau will see that equitable
contracts are entered into between The employee
and their involability enforced upon both. parties
The sum heretofore received by the master for the
hire Of men affords an approximate test of the value
!, jof laborf The change Of circumstances and the
increased value of the great staples of the South
+ lwiii be secured by lien upon the crops raised
The cultivation Of lands for an interest In the crops
produced win be encouraged. Special efforts will
be made to settle the people on lands of their own
as provided in the Act Of Congress- establishing
this Bureau. aFair play Is all that is demanded
, for the coored citizen and fair play he must be
n guaranteed Compulso$ labor except for the legal
: punishment of crime, will not be liberated. =
, Jastes-Diferences arising between the freed
!, men or between themselves and others will be adj
ljudicated by officers and agents of this Bureau,
cept at places where the civil courts receive the es
tnony Of the colored citizens The negro's right
10 justice before the law shall be maintained He
will receive the same punishment for crimes as the
e laws impose upon white people. a t'- % .'S =.
II ReliJ Estd6lishments. -Free1mcn's camp and
refugee homes will be discontinued as speedily as
recipients Of relief can obtain employment. None
but the absolutely worth necessitous md destitute
wiil receive subsistence from the government and
I, then but temporarily. asil tn7 S.7s, 81 E'l,'
Il The Aged and I,.frm.-The compulsory removal
y Of the aged and infi1n colored people from their
y homes by former masters must not be permitted =
Officers and agents Of the Bureau will take into
consideration the proper care of this class in max
ing contracts for labor to be performed on panta-
3 ltions where they may be-; but plantations and
homes from which the old and faithful freed people
. are driven away, viii be seized and treated as
abandoned property for the benefit Of this homeless
= and helpless class Of people, - ssN'i..
r The Unity Of Fdmiiiss.LThe unity Of families
i and all the rights of the family relation win be
r carefully guarded. 5,.u' I.-A - p ,'..us =
: Education. The educational and moral condition
of the people whose interests have been committed
TO this Bureau wiz receive the earnest attention Of
@ its officers and agents. Benevolent and religious
organizations willbeaforded the utmost facility in
the establishment and mantainance Of good schools
The Superintendent Of schools win specially pro-
y mote method and efficiency in the educational
n enterprise. p A.'6 ~ CLINTON B. FISH, -
;, -a' Brig. Gen. Asst Commr r. r. and A. L. =