Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-12-20
Important Circular.

We publish the following circular, as it
cOntains information Of considerable interest
at the present time:
HEADo'Rs Acr. ASST Con-. BUREAU
REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS.
DISTRICT WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA.
COLOMBIA, S. C., November y, 1865.
Circp ar.
In order to avoid the evils that must reces.
sarily follow failure on the part Of employ
ers and freedmen to enter into contracts for
the ensuing year, it has been determined to
require that contracts be made Immediately.
The accompanying form has been adopted
and will be observed.
lis hoped that the stipulation in this
form providing for the continuance of these
contracts after the restoration Of civil author.
ity, under such rules and regulations as may
be adopted by the Legislature of this State
will provo satisfactory 10 al parties. 1t is
recommended that as far as practicable, in
order not to break up Their homes for the
present, freedmen to be employed by and
mike contracts with their former masters,
an1 that care be- taken to provide. for the
maintenance ofthe helpless. and iniirm. This
eud will be most easily secured by paying
the freedmen for their labor in clothing, food
and sholter aad medical attendance, aud such
additional wages in money as may be agreed
upon. Commanding officer at each court
house in the Sub-District to act as agent for
the Freedmea's Bureau, and to take charge.
of the making of contracts. This officer, as
sociated With two citizens Of the Military
District, (magistrates, if they can be obtain
ed,) will constitute board under the pro
visions of Circular No. S, from headquarters
of the Bureau. In cases where the employ.
er aud freedmen cannot agree upon the terms
Of tho contract, this board, after careful ex-
animation Of all the facts, vill fix the terms.
The Two citizens, (nembers 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 then and approx
ed by the SUBJ District Commanding. !;
TG, dofray the necessary expenses of these.
proceedings, fee Of fifty centsshall be cbarg.
ed and collected for each freedman so en-
ployed 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. These fees will be
collected by the officer in charge, and &C.
SUuutcu w tuo Su1f<AooibiduC SOLnLQlSs
sioner.. No disbursements by him will be
allowed, except the per diena ofthe associate
members of the board. upon approved ac-
counts A'weekly report will be made by
him tothe Sub Assistant Commissioner, which
will bs accompanied by4s correct copy of all
contracts entered into.
Sub-Assistant Commissioners will report
weakly to these headquarters the number of
contracts made, the number offreedmen con. |
tracted with, and every other matter of i'm.
portance or interest connected with this husi-
ness. CO. s,e..! 80 ..-.3. :. 8,
They will also, to the full exten. of their
power, enforce she faithful performance of
the conditions of these contracts. The in
terests offreedmen will be carefully guarded, |
and their rights in every respect. protected,
but at the same time, they must, be com.
PEELED to fulfil their agseement, and, il idle
or vicious, must be punished. -, y.
No effort should be spared to- correct the
erroneous impression that pre....ii;,ss among
freedmen in regard to a division of isud
that 1t Is not hecessarJ for them to 5maks,
or they viii be permitted to leave
their present homes, and 90 In great numbers
to any other part of the country.
s.s - RALPH ELY,
Bseyet Brig. GenI, Acting Ass'nt CONS :