The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-11-16
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH.
Report of the State Agent on Aban.
doued Lands I'm south Carolina
The New Ereedmcn.s Code..-The
Duty OF the southern People In q q
Elections.

Report of the State Agent on Aban.
doned Lands I'm south CaroIina---
Duty of the southern People In the
Elections.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Hon. VIM. III. Prescott. who was appointed
by Governor Perry 90 ascertain from the Presi-
dent the condition Of the abandoned lands"
in south Carolina. and how long il will be
before owners of such lands will be- restored 10
their property, has made his report. lie saws:
A." As far a. the action Of the Government of
the United states, during the late civil disturb
ances. l. concerned, the lands In this state may
/ be divided into three classes: -
II The lands taken and sold uncrer the pro-
visions OF the tax act Of June :. 1862 with It's
amendment Of February G. 1869.
-. The lands styled abandoned lands in
the act creating the Freedmen's Bureau
.. The lands set apart for occupation by
General Sherman's order.
. A. 10 the first class, felt that the questions
involved were OF so grave and complicated a
character that immediate relief was scarcely 10
be expected; anu as the Attorney General. the
chief law officer Of the Government was ab-
sent from Washington. deemed il best not 10
ask their consideration until the others had
been disposed Of The only step with regard
/ TO these lands which have taken was 10 apply
Tor list OF property 50 sold, which will pub
/ llsh a soon a. received, for general iniorma-
ton. Believing that the legislation umler
which this property has been sold cannot be
sustained. and that. al any rate. relief can be
afforded in these cases where the Government
was the purchaser deem il proper AZ present
merely Ia suggest TO the parties Interested such
] consultation among themselves and conference
with the Agent Of the State ~ will enable him
10 take the necessary steps This l. the more
promptly required. the residue Of such
property remaining unsOd has been adyer-
tised for sale on the 9th Of December nett.
As To the other classes. Won are aware that
10y the act creating the Frcedmen's Bureau,
and subsequent orders, all the lands i'm the
southern States embraced In the term aban-
doned lands used in that act were turned
over To the officers Of the Bureau for distribu-
tton among the loyal refugees and the freed
men OF the 'insurrectionary States Bv circu-
lar No. - the President, however. limited To
/ very great extent the disastrous consequences
Of this enactment. By that order. all persons
whohad received special pardons. and all who
under the provisions Of the general amnesty
had token The oath Of allegiance, were allowed
to recover the possession OF their lands. But
a doubt having arisen a. TO whether that por-
uon oI these lands embraced ia General Sher-
mans order and lying on the sea coast Of Car
olina. Georgia and Florida. was subject To
this provision for restoration, tbs further or
der No. 10, was issued, instructlng General
tend the orders necessary 10 their restoration.
Al present, therefore. all the lands i'm the State
seized by the United States Government ex-
ccpt lands taken and sold under the tax act
are to be restored. The abandoned lands
not inclnded in General Sherman's order. will
be recovered upon application to the Commits
sloner ~ the Bureau i'm the State upOn proof
of pardon, either special or general. under the
amnesty proclamation; and the lands incild-
ed in the order will be restored bv
application 10 the officer assigned 10 that
special duty. The orders 10 carry this dcciS-
ion into effect will be forwarded 10 your Ex-
cellency 50 soon rs ! receive the official
copies"
lie concludes his report rs follows;
Il cannot conclude this report without eX-
pressing 10 your EXcellency. and through Won
to the Legislature. my profound sense Of what
this state owes TO the wisdom and courage of
the Presidents policy. II has saved us from
destruction that would have been as rapid as
IL was ruthless
I'm the readiness with which / was permit
tea 10 lay before him your EXcelency's sue-
gestiOn-in the consderate attention given To
theinterests was instructed to reprcsent-in
inc lust ana kindly appreciation Of the diff
culiies with which the State was surrounded
In the Judieious policy which Gen. Howard
was authorized To pursue. found still further
evidence Of that sincere desire 10 aid the state
in her trying position, which feel il my duty
thus gratefully 10 acknowledge.
Columbia Is. CO. Correspondence of the n. Y. World
TIE NEW FREEDMAN's CODE.
The report of the special commission APP
pointed by Gov. Perry under authority Of the
late convention. for the purpose Of preparing
and reporting ''What laws will be necessary
and proper. in consequence of the alterations
made IN the fundamental law: and especially
TO prepare and submit a code for the regula-
ton of labor, and the protection and govern
mcnt of the cOiored population of the STATE
Is now in the hands Ofthe judiciary committee.
where il will be apt TO stay for ten DAYS AT
least, n IL Is very yOluminous and affects fun
damentally the minutest relations existing be-
tween the colored people of the State and their
/ former masters, and between the colored neo-
pie themselves.
one Of the first things the commission does
is TO draw the distinction between the negro
and the white man, and 10 define their posi-
uons. Thus: "All free negroes, mulattOes and
mestiZOeS. all freedmen and freed woman. and
| all descendants. through either sex. or any of
these persons, shall be known rs persons Of
color, except that every such descendant who
may have of Caucasian blood seven-eighths or
more, shall be deemed a white person.
THE RIGHTS OF THE FREEDMEN.
The statutes and regulations concerning
slaves are made inapplicable TO persons of
color; and although such persons are not en-
titled To social or political equality with white
persons, they shall have the right to acquire.
own and dispose of property; to make con-
tracts; to enjoy the fruits Of their labor to sue
and be sued; and 10 receive protection under
the law in their persons and property; and all
rights and remedies respecting persons and
property; and all duties and labili-
ties under laws civil and criminal. which
| apply To white persons are extended to per-
sons OF color. subject TO certain notifications.
THE RELATIONS OF HUSBAND AND WIPE
are fully established. insisted on and protect
Z ed. Where the freedmen have more than one
wife at present, (Which j. more the rule than
the exception in South Carolina they are re-
quired to elect which they will keep. and step
up and do the connubial to her in the usual
/ and civilized way. All children heretofore
born are declared legitimate.
MARRIAGE AMONG THE FREEDMEN.
II i made misdemeanor for any one to per-
form the ceremony Of marriage among the
freedmen and freedwomen. unless the party Of
the former sex has attained the age Of n, and
I OF the latter Il. Paupers cannot intermarry.
Apprentices cannot marry during their term
Of service.
TIE RELATION OF PARENT AND CHILD
is established beyond civil. as il makes the
father responsible for the support Of all his
children. whether born 10 him Of one wife
! Of thousand. This j. particularly heavy ON
tue frcedmen.)
MASTER AND APPRENTICE
The father or mother Of the little '.freeds''
/ NAV bind them 10 any respectable white or
colorod person capable Of making a contract
/ until they have attained certain agc-twenty-
I one in the male and eighteen in the females
Where colored children have no parents. or
/ their parents are paupers. OF they are warrants
prtntices
! HOW APPRENTICES SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR
By THEIR MASTERS.
The master or mistress shall teach the ap-
prentice the business Of husbandry. OF some
1 other useful trade. profession or business
which shall he specified in the instrument of
/ apprenticeship. shall furnish him with whole
some food and suita ble clothing. teach him hab-
il, IF industry. honesty and morality. and goy-
ern and treat him with humanity and discre-
ton. and If there b. a school within con-
venient distance in which colored children are
taught shall send him % school at least six
weeks in every year Of his apprenticeship. after
he shall reach the age Of ten years
THE RIGHTS OF THE MAsTER.
/ The master ~hall receive the earnings Of the
I apprentice. may inflict moderate chastisement
I and impose reasonable restraints upon his ap-
I prentice or recapture him if he depart, his ser-
vice.
THE RIGHTS OF TIE APPRENTICE.
( The apprentice may summons the master be-
fore district judge and have him mulcted in
fines and costs il he neglecis his duties 70 him.
or unlawfully restraints him. and has the right
% sue for damages.
Persons who contract with freedmen must
+ be known - masters. the freedmen contracting
A. servants The master nav diSrlarlye his