Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-12-07
sF We publish the following circular, as
it contains ;pformation Of considerable in.
-terest at the present time :
HrApauA RTRRs ACT. ASST. Con-. BUREAU ]
Rr7uGtRs, FRERphEN AND ABAs LANDS,
DIsTRIor WESTERN SourH CAROLINA,
CoIuMBIA. 8. C.. November %, 1885, /

1 -.-- SOLU1nL, .. SJ NoNr1upci -, kSeo' y
| { Csrc9lar. I. -, s
In order to avoid the evils that must ne.
cessarily follow failure on the part of em-
ployers and freedmen to enter into contract.
for the ensuing year, it has been determin.
ed to require that contracts to be made i'm.
mediately. The accompanying form has
been adopted, and viii be observed.
It is hoped that the stipulation in this
form providing for the continuance of these
contracts after the restoration of civil an.
thority, under such rules and regulations as
may be adopted BY the Legislature Of this
State, will prove satisfactory to all parties.
1t is recommended that, as far as practices.
BILE, in order NOT to break up their homes
for the present, freedmen to be employed
by and make contracts with their former
masters, and that care be taken to provide
for the maintenance of the helpless and in
firm. This end will be most easily secured
by paying the freedmen for their labor in
clothing, food and shelter, and medical at.
tendance, and such additional wages in
money as may be agreed upon. Command
ing officers of Sub Districts will designate
an officer at each court house in the SUBJ
District to act as agent for the Freednen's
Bureau, and to take charge of the making
of contracts. This officer, associated With
two citizens of the Military District (mag.
istrates, if they can be obtained) viii con,
stitute board under the provisions of Cir.
cular No. 5, from headquarters Of the Bu
reau. In cases where the employer and
freedmen cannot agree upon the terms of
the contract, this board, after careful ex-
animation of all the facts, will fix the terms
The two citizens (members Of the board)
shall be paid three dollars per day for the
time actually engaged in the discharge Of
their duty-the account to be certified to
BY the officer associated with them, and ap.
proved by the Sub. District Commander.
To defray the necessary expenses Of these
proceedings, fee Of fifty cents shall be
charged and collected for each freedman SO
employed; in cases where ten. or less
number are employed, if more than ten,
twenty-five cents will be collected for each
additional freedman SO employed. The en-
tire fee to be paid by the employer. These
fees will be collected by the officer in charge
and accounted for TO the Sub Assistant
Commissioner. No disbursement by him
will be allowed, except the per diem Of the
associate members of the board, upon ap-
proved accounts. A weekly report will be
made by him TO the SnbsAssistant eomrnis-
sioner, which will be accompanied by cor
rect copy of all contracts entered into
Sub. Assistant Commissioners will report
weekly to these headquarters the number
of contracts made, the number of freedmen
contracted with, and every other matter of
importance or interest connected with this
business.
They will also, to- the extent of their
power, enforce the faithful performance of
the conditions of these contracts. The In
terests of freedmen will be carefully guard.
ed, and their rights, in every respect, pro.
teoted; bat, at the same time, they must
be compelled to fulfill their agreement, and
if idle or vicious, they must be punished.
No effort should be spared to correct the
erroneous impression that prevails among
freedmen in regard to division of land :
that it is not necessary for them to make
contracts, or they will be permitted to leave
their present homes, and 90 10 great num-
bers to any other parto the country,
RALPH ELY,
's Breset Brigadier General,
Acting Assistant Commissioner.