The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-08

FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
WASHINGTON, D. c. September A. 1865.
Circular No. 15.-Circular No. 10, of
July 2Sth, 1866, from this Bureau is here
~ rescinded, and the following rules
md regulations are adopted for the pur-
pose of establishing definite and uni
iorm policy relative to abandoned lands
or real property, and lands and real pro-
perty to which the United States shall
have acquired title by confiscation, or
sale, or otherwise, which now, or may
hereafter, come under the control Of this
Bureau, by virtue of the actof Congress,
approved March Sd, 1865, establishing
it, and by order of the President, to-wit: /
GENERAL ORDERS No, ITO,
WAR DEPARTMENT, june Tth 1865.
First. Abandoned lands referred to in
the law and regulations governing this |
bureau, are defined, according to section
second of an act of Congress, approved |
July I'd, 1864, as follows:
Property, real or personal, shall be re- |
garded as abandoned when the lawful |
owner thereof shall be voluntarily all
sent therefrom and engaged either in
arms or otherwise in aiding or encourage
ing the rebellion. 4
Second. Property willnot be regarded
as confiscated until after the decree Of
the United States Court for the district
in which the property may be found has
been made, by which the property is
as enemies property and
becomes the property of the United
States. sl#.sa j. ~ s. i-# h
Third. All abandoned land or real
property, and all land and real property
to which the United States shall have
acquired title by confiscation, or sale,
or otherwise, that is or may hereafter
come under the control of the Bureau
of Refugee Freedmen, and Abandoned
Lands by virtue of said act and orders
of the President is and shall be set apart
for the use of loyal refugees and freed
men, and so much as may be necessary.
assigned to them as provided in section
fourth of the act establishing the Bureau,
viz to every male citizen, whether re-
fugee or freedman as aforesaid, there
shall be assigned no more than forty
acres of such. and the person to whom
it is SO assigned shall be protected in
the use and enjoyment of the land for
the term Of three years. at an annual
rent not exceeding six per centum up
on the value of said land as it was APP
praised by the State authorities in the
| year 1880 for the purpose of taxation
and in case no such appraisement can
be found then the rental shall be based
| upon the estimated value of the land in
| said wear, to be ascertained in such man.
ner as the Commission may by regula
4 ton prescribe at the end of said term
or at any time during said term, The
occupant of any parcels so assigned may
purchase the land and receive such title
| thereto as the United States can convey
upon paying therefor the value of the
land ascertained and fixed for the pur.
pose of determining the annual rent
aforesaid. ..-.-.-...---
Fourth. All lands or other real prop
erty within the several States, viz: Vir.
ginia North Carolina, South Carolina
| Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
! Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Mary
land, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas
to which the United States has acquired
or shall acquire by confiscation or sale
or otherwise, and all abandoned lands OF
other abandoned real property in thesi
States, provided said property, whether
confiscated or abandoned, remaining
unsold or otherwise disposed of, shall
have been properly transferred to the
bureau upon requisition of the Commits
! sioners or Assistant Commissioners
II be considered as under the control
sn"- COIumissiohcis y, neiu6eSe
of the md Abandoned Lands, fol
the purpose here ing the act estab.
for the time authorA. -opart or parcel
fishing the bureau and,. I'D property
of said confseated or abandon- TO the
shall be surrendered or restored "
former owners or other claimants, t.
cept such surrender or restoration be
authorized by said Commissioner.
Fifth. Assistant Commissioners will,
as rapidly as possible, cause accurate des-
criptions of oil confiscated and abandon
ed lands, and other confscated and
abandoned real property that is now or
may hereafter come under their control,
to be made, and besides keeping re-
cord of such themselves, will forward
monthly to the Commissioners of the
Bureau copies of such descriptions, in
the manner prescribed by circular No.
10, of July L 1865, from this bureau.--
They will, with as little delay as possi-
BILE, select aud set apart such cOnfiscated
and abandoned lands and property as
may be deemed necessary for the lmme-
date use of refugees and freedmen, the
specific division of which into lots, and
the rental or sale thereof, according to
the law establishing the bureau, will be
COIIlpleteu as StOu 40 pidCtICdDlc, anu
reported to the Commissioners. In the
selection and setting apart of such lands
and property, care will be used to take
that about W hich there is the least doubt
that this bureau should have custody
and control of. sa :.
h Sixth. Whenever any land or real
property that shall come into the posses
sion of this bureau as " abandoned "
does not fall under the definition OF
F." abandoned" as set forth in section
two of the act of Congress, approved
July I'd, 1854, hereinbefore mentioned,
it will be formerly surrendered by the
Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau
for the State in which such real estate is
situated, upon its appearing that the
claimant did not abandon the property
iu the sense defined in said section and
act %. .t{-ra7hl tEH| o= - 3I'i ,
Seventh. Former owners of property
held by this bureau as abandoned,
who claim its restoration on the ground
of having received the pardon of the
President, will, as far as practicable,
forward their applications to the Com
missioner of the Bureau through the
Superintendents and Assistant Commits
sioners of the districts and States in
which this property is situated. Fac.
application must be accompanied by
1st ooox, IF the SpeciaI ipar(ionl of FIJI.