The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-08
REGULATIONS FOR FREEDMEN.

IL |
Washington, July u, 1865
Instructions 10 As Commissioners and other Officers
Each Assistant Commissioner will be careful
in the establishment of sub-dstricts to have
the office of his agent at some point easy of ac-
cess for the people Of the sub-district.
He will have at least one agent, in each sub
district. This agent must be thoroughly in
structed in his duties. He will be furnished
with the proper blanks for contracts, and will
institute methods adequate to meet the wants
Of his district in accordance with the rules of
this Bureau. No, fixed rates of wages will be
prescribed for district, but in order to regulate
fair wages in given individual cases, the agent
should have in mind minimum rates for his own
guidance BY careful inquiry as to the hire Of
an able-bodied man when the pay went to the
master, he will. have an approximate test of the
value of labor He must Of course consider
the entire change Of circumstances and be sure
that the labcrer has due protection against
avarice and extortion. Wages had better be
secured by lien on the crops or land. En-
ployers are desired to enter into written agree
ments with employees, setting forth stated
wages, or securing an interest in the land OF
proved by the nearest agent, and duplicate
agent within reach, the nearest postmaster vii
forward the duplicate of contracts direct to the
Assistant Commissioner for the State
Attention is specially called to section Of
, the law establishing the Bureau with regard tt
setting apart land to "every male citizen
whether refugee or freedman" &c, and the
same arrangement is recommended, when il
can be effected, between private parties. AL
bnx,n kol 1c fronI
men and refugees. This course is recognition
Of the general principle in the law.
! In order to enforce the tulfllment Of contract
on both contracting parties, the COMMISSIONS
of the Bureau lays down general rule-Tht
, Assistant Commissioner must use the privileges
and authority he already has. Provost courts
military commissions local courts, where tht
/ freedmen and refugees have equal rights will
other people, are open to his use. Lin the grea
majority of cases his own arbitrament, or that o
his agent, or the settlement by referees viii! b.
| sufficient.
| No Assistant Commissioner, or agent, i
authorized to tolerate compulsory unpaid labor
/ except for the legal punishment of crime. SUI
fering may result to some extent, but sutferin:
is preferred to slavery, and is to some degree
the necessary consequence of events. In all &C
tions the officer should never forget that no sub
stitute for slavery, like apprenticeship withou
proper consent or peonage, q e., either holdin:
! the people by debt, or confsing them, withou
consent, to the land by any system,) Will be tol
Grated
The Assistant Commissioner will designat
one or more of his agents act as the general So
perintendent of schools Gone for each State) TO
refugees and freedmen. This officer will worl
! l. - Sfot
! officers who may have school matters in charge
! Ii general system can be adopted for State
it is we'll; but if not, he will at least take cogni
zance of all that is being done to educate refu
gees and freedmen, secure proper protection t.
schools and teachers, promote method and ETH
cheney, correspond with the benevolent agence
which are supplying the field, and aid the As'
Commissioner in making his required report:
Surgeon g. W. llorner, Chief Medical office
of the Bureau, will have the general SUPERVISE
Of medical matters connected with refugees an
freedmen.
The. Assistant Commissioners will instruc
their medical officers as they have instructe
other officers, to make the medical department
self-supporting as far as possible
All public addresses of character calculate
to create discomfort are reprehensible; bat tn
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS anu HIS dScHiS huSl @
plain, by constant recapitualaton, the principle
laws, and regulations Of this Bureau to all pa
ties concerned. 1t is recommended to the Al
sistant Commissioners to draw up in writing
careful summary to be publicly and privatel
read by agents throughout their respective di
triets. y. y. HOW ARD,
Major General, Commissioner.
The Municipal elections of Richmond, Va
recently held, have been annulled by the mil