Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-22
Terms--Three Dollars per year.
IN ADVANCE.

important order, from the Freedmen's Bureau. Its
publication has been delayed in consequence oi
the crowded condition of our columns Let every
one read II:
Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandon
ed Lands,
STATES OF KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE & NORTH ALABAMA.
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,
Nashville, Tenn, October 10, 1868.
81 CIRCULAR NO. 8.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Add, Lands.
Washington, October An 1865.
CIRCULAR LETTER
'State laws with regard to Apprenticeship win
be recognized by this Bureau provided they make
no distinction Of color, in case they do so the
said laws applying TO white children will be ex-
tended to the colored."
"0ficers Of this Bureau are regarded as guardi-
ans Of orphans, minors Of freedmen within their
respective districts" .....
"The principle to be adhered to with regard to
paupers is, that each county, parish, township or
city, shall care for and provide for lis own poor
"Vagrant laws made for free people, and now in
force, the statute books of the States embraced
in the operations of this Bureau will be recognized
and extended to the freedmen"
Assistant commissioners VIII draw up spechc
instructions applicable to their respective States in
accordance with the foregoing principles
(Signed) o. o. HOWARD,
Mgj- Gen. and Commissioner
In obedience TO orders to me directed in the fore
going Ciicular from the Commissioner of this Bu-
rcau the following instructions are published for
the information of all interested parties:
ORPHANS
Officers and Agents of this Bureau are regarded
as Guardians of Orphans or Abandoned Minors OF
freedmen within their respective Districts, and
State laws with regard to Apprenticeship will be
recognized, provided, they make no distinction on
account of color, or in case they do so, the said
laws applying to white children will be extended
to the coored.
Colored children or minors, white refugees whose
parents are dead or unable or unwilling to support
and educate them, and other minors of these class
es, with the consent of their parents, may be ap-
pHnticed to some good trade suitable occupation
-naes until they arrive at twenty-one years OF
age, and females until they are eighteen years Of
age, unless shorter period of tim9may be agreed
upon Skilled trades are to be preferred.
The binding of an Apprentice shall be by inden-
ture and said indenture shall be acknowledged be-
fore the County Court, and recorded as provided
by law.
Persons to whom minors may be apprenticed
shall provide for them, good diet and clothing du-
ring the term of apprenticeship, and all other nee
essareS meet and proper in sickness and in health,
and at the expiration of the term allow the appren-
tice such sums of money and. suits of clothing as
may be agreed upon between the parties.
Agents are directed to grant to children of the
age of fourteen years and upwards the priv ilege OF
choosing the persons to whom they shall be appren-
tced provided the persons designated are not un-
fitted for such responsible positions. Minors will
not be apprentced TO persons who have been guilty
of cruelty to slaves by them formerly owned, or OF
injustice to freedmen since their emancipation.
Minors will not be apprenticed to persons other
than of good charcter and reputation. Special
attention will be given to poor riendless children
of freedmen who have been thrown upon the world
by the violent changes Of the social order, and
who, unless aprenticed, will become vagrants and
paupers.
PAUPERs.
The principles to he adhered to in regard to
PAUPERs is that each County shall provide for lis
0Un pooF.
All cases, therefore, of pauperism coming ander
your notice, are to be referred in each County to
the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for
the Poor and you will cooperate with the civil
autbsrties in their efforts to care for the helpless
and to place the responsibility of support upon the
County to which the paupers properly belong.
When question arises as to whether late mas
ter shall provide for his former slave now aged and
nfrm, the case must be reported to the Commss-
oner for the Poor for decision. The Bureau does
not favor the compulsory removal of such persons
from the plantations on which they have spent
their lives.
VAGRANCY,
When either of the classes of persons over whom
this Bureau exercises control neglect to apply them
selves to an honest calling, or saunter about neg
Letting their business try to maintain themselves
hx tbar
tering themselves upon industrious and well be.
haved persons you will see that they are properly
arrested aud punished in pursuance of the laws
made and prescribed in such cases. q
The credit and WELL being of the Industrious the
peace and good order of the community, and the
success of free labor, depend largely upon the Wig
or and thorOughness Of your action in relation tC
vagrants.
But while you deal sternly with all such char
acters be careful that no innocent and well-dispos
ed persons are annoyed and oppressed because o.
their poverty.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brig Gen. and Assist Commissioner.