Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-01
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR.

We publish the following circular. as it con.
taips y,forihntion Of considerable interest at
tLepresent time:
REFuaEEs. FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED. LiNDs.
DIsrRIcr WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA.
COLUMBIA. S. G., November 22; 1865.
Circmlnr.
In order TO avoid tho evils that must ncces.
snrly follow a failure on the part Of employ.
ers md freedmen to enter into contracts for the
ensuing year, it, has been determine to require
that contracts dc made Immediately. The nc.
compnnying folm hrs been adopted aud will
be observed.
1t is hoped that the stipulation in this form
providing for the continuance Of these con-
tracts after The restoration Of civn authority.
under such rules and regulations rs NAV be
adopted by the Legislature Of this State will
prove satisfactory to all partea. 1t is recon.
mended that. as far rs practicable in order not
TO- break mp their homes for The present, freed.
men to he employed by aud make contracts
with thcr former masters, and that care be
taken 10 provide fur tho maintenance Of tic
helpless aud infirm. His end will he most
easily secured 10y paying tho freedmen fortLeir
labor in clothing. food and shelter and Inc dicaI
attendance, and such additional wages in mon
as may be agreed uron' Commanding 1tli.
Ger at each court house in the Sub District TO
act as agent for the Freetmen's Bureau. and to
take charge of the making Of contracts. This
officer, associated with two citizens Of the Mil.
Vary Dis'rlrt, magistrates if they can Lc OBJ
'nincd') VIII constitute board undc"' the pro-
VISIONS oi Circular No. 8, from hcadl quarters
OF the Eurcau. In cases where the employer
anu freedmen cannot agree upon the terms of
The contract this board, after % careful exam.
.m"ti"h OF all the facts, will fix the TERMS
Inc wv" citizen $, (mernbers of the boar,O shall
Oc paid three dollars per day for the time &C.
'ually engaged in the discharge Of their duty
the account I" be certified to hy tho officer as
Soca!ed with them and oppr,y ID by the Sub.
District Commanding.
To dcfrny the necessary exncnscs of these
proceedings, fee Of fifty cents shall be charr-
ed nnd collected for each freedmen go employ-
ed; III cases where ten or n less number ar,
employed, II more than ten, twenty. five cents.
VIII 90 collected ior each additional freedman
so employed. These fees will be collected bv
the officer in charge, and accounted for TO ,hc
S"o-AsaIsianS Commissioner. No dslurse-
mcnts ty him will he ulowc.l, except the pcr
dIeh oi The associate members Of the Loard
upon approved accounts. weekly rcport
VIII be made ty him to the Sui. Assistant. Com
missioner which Will b" accompanied by
correct copy OF oil contracts entc red into
Sub. Assistant Commissioners will repor; wccl
~ TO these headquarters the number OF coutracts
made, the number Of freedmen contracted with
aud every Other mnttsr Of Importance or interest
connected wish this LNsness
They Will also. to Tie full extent of their now
er' enforce tho faithful performance of the condi
tioiis OF these contracts The interests of freed
men will be carefully guarded, and their riyhts
III every respect protected but, nj tie sumo time,
they must be compelled to .il their agrcencnl'
and, If idle or vicious, mus, pc punished.
No esfor, should be spared to correct the erro
neons impression that prevails among ficcmcn
III regard to q division of land that il il moi No.
cessary for 1aem TO make contracts or ,1,ey viii
DC permitted TO leave their present homes. md
go III great numbers to any other part of the
country. RALPH EI.y
brevet ErS Gfn'l, Acting Ass'nt Corn'r.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov % 1865.
10 Breret Brigulier-G Gcne,I R,}nh E3u d.i,