The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-18
Confiscated or Abandoned Lands.
CIRCULAR FROM THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU.

The Circular No. Is, dated September
4th, having been by accident premature
ly promulgated, it is recalled, and the
| following circular, revised in some par
ticuIars, substituted therefOrby the Wal
Department: !.a.5 .a.e4
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND
ABANDONED LANDS, WASHINGTON, Sept. ~, 1861
Circular No. Is, of July %, 1865, from
| this Bureau, and all portions of circulars
from this Bureau conflicting with the
| provisions of this circular, are hereby
rescinded. .It
This bureau has charge of such tracts
| of land withinthe insurrectionary States
| as shall have been abandoned, or to
| which the United States shall have ac-
| uuired, by confiscation or sale, or other
| wise, and no such lands now in Its pos
| session shall be surrendered to any
| claimants except as hereinafter provided.
| Third. Abandoned lands are defined
i'm section second of the act of Congress,
| approved July I'd, 1854, as lands thelawful
owners whereof shall be voluntarily alb
| sent therefrom and engaged, either in
| arms or otherwise, in aiding or encour-
| aging the rebellion.
Fourth. Land will not be regarded as
| confiscated until it has been condemned
| and sold by decree of the United States
| Court i'm the districtin which the proper
| ty may be found, and the title thereto
| thus vested in the United States.
Fifth. Upon its appearing satisfacto-
rily to any Assistant COMMISSIONS that
any property under his control is not
abandoned as above defined, and that
the United States has acquired no title
to it by confiscation, sale, or otherwise,
he will formally surrender it to the au-
thorized claimant or claimants, promptly
reporting his act to the Commissioner.
Sixth. Assistant Commissioners will
prepare accurate descriptions of all con"
fiscated and abandoned lands under
their control, keeping a record thereof
themselves, and forwarding monthly to
the Commissioner copies of these des-
criptions, in the prescribed in
circular No. 10, of July IL, 1865, from
{ this bureau. They will set apart sc
; much of said lands as is necessary TO
l the immediate use of loyal refugees ant
s freedmen, being carefulto select for ithi
purpose those lands which most clearl.
a fall under the control of this bureau
which selection must be submitted t.
the Commissioner for his approval. 1h'
specific division of lands so set apart int
lots, and the rental or sale thereof, a.
: cording so section fourth of the law es
tablishing the bureau, will be completed
! as Don as practicable and reported to thu
" Commissioner.
D Seventh. Abandoned lands held by
: this bureau may be restored to owner
: pardoned by the President, by the Assis
TAFT Commissioners, to whom appllca
: ton for such restoration should be TO.
e warded, so FAR as practicable, through
the superintendent of the district j
which the lands are situated and eac
application must be accomnlnied by
First, evidence of special par n by tn
1t President, or a copy Of tie 0. OF an
Mostly sreeorihod tx tho praeiA s'e pr,
a clamation of May 29th, 1866, VIII n til
application is not included in any # til
classes herein excepted from the be eff.
ls of said oath. Second, proof of title.
d . Officers of the bureau through whor
the application passes will endors
thereon such facts as may assist the Al
o sistant Commissioner in his decision
" stating especially the use made by tn
j bureau of the land.
a Eighth-No lands under cultivation
by loyal refugees or freedmen will b
: restored under this circular until tn
Is crops now growing shall be received fo
TT the benefit of the c~ultivators, unless flu
h and just compensation be made for the
~ labor and itsproducts, and for their e1
y penditures. o. o. HOWARD,
Gu Major General and Commissioner.
it Approved: ANDREW JOHNSON,
n President of the United States.