The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-17
=. VOL. L.-N0. 11a.
.Headq'rs Asst Com'r Of Freedmen

se.le.s
'Headq'rs Asst Con'r Of Freedmen,
FOR 8. G.. GA, AND FLA,
BEAuToss, 8. e., June 20, 1855.
THE following Circular from Head.
i. quarters Bureau Of Freedmen, Refugees
and Abandoned Lands, is republisAad for
the information Of all whom it may concern:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
BUREAU OF FREEDMEN, REFUGEES AND
ABANDCNED LANDS,
WASHINGTON, D. c., May %, 1885.
Circular No. 8.
Whereas a large amount of land in ths
State Of Virginia, and in other States that
have been in insGrrection, has been .aban-
doned by disloyal owne&s and is now being
cultivated by freedmen; and whereas tho
tain possession Of them, and titus deprive
the freedmen Of the fruits Of their industry:
1t Is ordered that all abandoned lands In
said States now under cultivation by the
freedmen, be retained in their possession
until the crops now growing shall ke secured
1or their benefit, uniess fua and just COM
Pensation be made for their labor and its
products and Tor expenditures. =
Ihe above order will not be so construed
as 70 reheVe dls1OyAl persons from the cou-
sequences of their disloyalty, and the ap-
Phcatlon for the restoration Of their landa,
~ o1to NIaSo VI PERSONS, Will IN no case Do
entertsined by any military authority.
o. o. HOWARD, Mai. Cen.
Commissioner of Bureau OF Freedmen.
Refugees and Abandoned Lands.
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
ADJUTAST-GENEnAL's OFFICE,
WARRINGTON, May %, 1865.
All military authorities will sustain the
commissioner Of the Bureau of Refugees,
freedmen and Abandoned Lands, and aid
him in the execution of the above order.
by direction OF the Secretary of War.
Il. d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
II. The provisions OF the above circular
Will be stl ictly enforced throughout the
States Of South Curolina, Georgia and Flo
rlda. Complaints have been made at these
Headquarters that in many instances for
mer owners of plantations and slaves, who
are now allowed to remain on their lands
upon condition that they announce to their
| former slaves that they are free, and make
with them fair and equitable agreements,
be made for their ssbor and its products,
are, in defiance OF this osder, still forcing
their former slaves to work for them. and
continue to hold them in slavery, even to
the extent of shooting them down if thev
dare to assert their freedom, and fail utterly
to admit or announce to, them in any way
that they are frSc. Such acts are disloyaI
to the Government and in plain violation of
it's policy.
1t is hereby ordered that all persons ON
ploy1ng the freedmen in agricultural :.ud
mechanical pursuits within the States ~
South Carolina, Georgia and FIoridu. Who
fail, by the 18th of August, to announce to
those IN their employ the fact that they are
Tree, anu fall to recognize them as free mon
and to make suitable agreements with them
whereby just anka equitable compensation
Will be secured to chem for their labor, win
n q iSIn k<,< Yx:S
vcrnment, and their property will be SUBJ
ject to seizure and division among the freed
men, IN accordance with the provisions Of
Section of an ''Act to Establish 4 Bureau
for the Relief Of Freedmen and Refugees"
approved March 3, 1866.
III. AS the harvest time is near, and the
freedmen have been regarded as free by the
United States Government since January.
1869; and as measure Of necessity, to pre-
vent them from becoming paupers on it's
bounty, the freedmen must be paid for their
labor on all lands, not abandoned since the
commencement OF the preparation of ttfe
ground for setd up to the harvest time OF
this year; and unless full compensation is
made, to tho satisfaction of this Bureau,
the freedmen will be entitled to and will
receive onc-haf of the crop raised.
~. Any person who shall whip or other
wise maltreat any freedman because he as
serts that freedom, or for other cause, will
co iIoiu S.tAey DSAo1o tile INV, anu puIlshed
for assault and battery; and any one who
shall take the life Of any freedman for like
cause, will be held guilty of murder.
V. No person will be permitted to drive
the vaged, intirm and helpless from their
present places Of. abode; they must be
allowed to remain where they are until such
time as the Government shall make proper
provision for their support.
VI. The Assistant Commissioners in the
States of South Canlina, Georgia and Flo
rida are required to enforce this order to the
extept of their power, and to report to these
Headquarters all violations Of it. The aid
of every friend Of justice and fair dealing