The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-15

The folloWlDg ordef was issued on the
the 18th inst from the Feedmen's Blu
reau:
IN RELATION TO ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS |
AND OTHEK OFFIcERs.
Circular No. H.
The Assistant Commissioner VIII be /
careful in the establishment Of sub
districts 70 have the other officer or his |
agent at some point easy of access for !
the people of the sub~district He will /
have at least ore agent, either militia
~ officer or enlisted man in each sub i
district. This agent must be thorough 4
~ instructed in bis duty He win be
furnished with the proper blanks for
contracts, and will institute methods
adequate to I'll the wants of his Dis
tricts. in accordance with the rules Of |
the Bureau. No fixed rates of wages |
will be prescribed for a district, but in |
order 70 regulate fair wages in given in |
dividual cases, the sgent should have in |
view the minimum rates for his own /
guidance by careful inquiry as 70 the |
hire Of an able bodied man when pay
ment TO the master will have an sp- /
pTOximate test Of the value of labor. |
lie must, Of course, consider the en-
tire change of circumstances, and be |
sure the laborer has due protection
against svarice and extortion. The
wages had better be secured by lien
on the crops or land Employers are
desired 10 enter into written agree
ments with their employees, setting
forth stated wages, or insuring an in
terest in the crops OF land, or both.
All such agreements viii ba spprOV-
ed by the nearest agent, and dupl-
cate filed ia his Office. In case there
should be no agent within reach, the
nearest Postmaster will forward a du-
pl;eate of contract directed to the AS
slstant Commissioner for the State. At
tentiou is especially called to section
four Of the law establishing the Bureau.
with regard to setting apart lands TO
every male citizen, wether q refugee or
freedman, &c, and the same arrange
Inent is recommended when it can be
Effected between private parties Al
ready many farmers have rented lsads
10 the freedmen and refugees. This
course is recognition of the great
principle Of law. Ia order TO insure
the iulfllment of contracts by D. ,th con-
tmcting parties, the Commissp oner Of
the Bureau lays down no gene raj rule.
The Assistant Commissioner must use
the privileges and authority he already
has.
The Provost Marshal, the military
commission, and local courts, where
the ireemen and refugees have actual
rights with other people, are open to
his use. In the great majority Of cases
has own abitrament, or that OF his
agents, or the settlement by referees.
viii be sufficient No Assistant Com
missioner or agent is authorized to toll
crate compulsory unpaid labor, except
for the legal punishment of crime.
Suffering may result to some extent,
but suffering Is preferable 70 slavery.
aud Is 20 some extent the necessary
consequence Of events. In all action.
the officer should never forget that no
substitute Tor slavVTy like apprentice
ship without proper consent, or peon-
age, that Is, either holding the people
10y debt, or conhning them without
consent 10 the land by any system
walt be tolerated, The Assistant
Commissioner Will designate one
or moro "a his agents TO act as
General Superinteg dent OF schools. one
for each State, for refugees and freed
men. These officers viii work as much
as possible in conjunction with tho
state officers, who may have school
matters IN charge. TIA general systenA
can DO adopted for State, it Is well /,
but II not lac will at least take care Of
al that is being done 70 educating ref
ugees and freedmen. Secure proper
protection 70 the schools, and teach aud
promote method or efficiency, and cor
respond with the benevolent agencies
Which are supplying this 6eld, aud the
Assistant Commissioners IN making
tner required reports Surgeon C. "
Homer, Chief Medical officer OF tha
Bureau, will have the general supasvIs-
ioa oi medical matters connected with
refugees and freedmen The Assistant
commissioners viii in6truci 1heir ne,li-
cal Cficers 10 make The Medical De.
Periment sclaupporting as lar rs posi-
bic
AL public addresses Of character
calculated 10 create G,s0 0ntent are rep.
fehet sihle, but the a sistant COmmis-
sioner ana his SCENTS must explain by
constant recapitulation The principles,
laws aud regulations of the Bureau 10
All parties concerned u IS reccm~
n'ended 10 The Assistant Commissioner
10 oraW up IN writing a careful summa-
tyi 10 be publicly ana privately read by
The aecuts throughout their respective
districts
Signed d d HowARn
Aa1 sen Commissioner of Refugees
aha Freedmen and Abandoned Lands