The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-10-11
neutrality-suspicious. Lands.
WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU or REFUGEES,
FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
Washington, July II, 1865

ircular, No II.
rHctions to Asst Commissioners and other Ofcers.
aeh assistant commissioner will be careful, in the
blishment Of sub districts to have the Office of his
tat some point easy Of eccess for the people of the
district.
e will have at least one agent, either citizen,
AIRY officer, enlisted man, in each sub district
agent must be thoroughly instructed in bis duties.
will be furnished with the proper blanks, and will
tate methods adequate to meet the wants Of Lis
ict, in accordance with the rules of his bureau.
fixed rates Of wages will De prescribed for dis
but IN order TO regulate fair wages in given iudi-
al eases, the agent should have in mind minimum
for his own guidance. BY careful inquiry as to
lifc OF an abe-boded man when the pay went to
master, he will have an approximate test of the
OF labor He must of course consider the entire
ge oil circumstances aud be sure that the Iaborer
due protection against avarice and extorton-
es mad better be secured by lien on the crops or
Employers are desired to enter into written
ements with employees, setting forth stated wages
curing an interest in the land or crop, or both
such agreements will be approved by the nearest
{, and duplicate filed in his office In case there
ID be no agent within reach tie nearest postmas-
f forward the duplicate of contracts direct TO the
can't commissioner for the State
ttention Is specially called to section of the law
1llshing the bureau with regard to setting apart
to every male citizen, whether refugee or freed
&c, and The same arrangements recommended,
Z A
i many farmers have rented anus to freedmen and
5ees. This course is a recognition of the general
iple in the law.
order to enforce the fulfment Of contracts on
contracting parties, the commissioner of the bu-
lays down no general rule-the assistant commits
must use the privileges and authority he already
Provost courts, military commissions local courts
the freedmen and refugees have equal rights
other people, are open to his use. In the great
Tlty OF cases bis own arbtrament, or that of his
or the settlement by referees, will be sufficient
assistant commissioner, or agent, is authorised
3terate compulsory unpaid labor, except for the
punishment OF crime. Suffering may result to
extent, but suffering is preferred to slavery, and
some degree the necessary consequence of events
all actions the officers should never forget that no
sate slavery, Ike apprenticeship without proper
40, peonascr H. e., either holding the people bv
or conhaiHg them, without consent to the land
y system will be tolerated
assistant commissioner viii designate one or more
agents 70 act as the general superintendent of
Is tone Tor each SLate) for refugees and freedmen
officer will work much as possible in coniunc- /
With State omcers who may have school matters
fge II q general system can be adopted for /
II Is ven, but ii not he will at least take cog
e OF an That IS being done to educate refugees I
eedpcn, secure proper protection to schools and I
rs, promote method and efficiency, correspond
G me benevolent agencies which are supplying His
T. ana the assistant commissioner in making his re-
reports
geon q W Horner, chief medical officer of the
y VIII have tie general supervision Of medical
$ connected with the refugees and freedmen.
"A assistant commissary will instruct their medical
us, as they have instructed other officers, to make
tdlcai department. selEsupporting far as possible
# public addresses of character calculated to
n discomfort, are reprehensble; but the assistant
missioner and his agents must explain by constant
tulaton, the principles laws and regulations of
bureau, to all parties concerned. 1t is recon-
led to the assistant commissioners to draw up in
a careful summary to be publicly and privately
y agents throughout their respective districts
0. 0. HOWARD
Maior-GeneraI, Commissioner.