The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-27

or may, under the direction Of the president, by
regulation prescribe. At the end of term, |
sooner, if the commissioner shall assent there
~, the occupants of any parcels assigned their
heirs and assigns, may purchase the land and re-
ceive title thereto from the United States in fee
upon paying therefor the value ofths lard ascer-
tanned aforesaid. 1
SEC. s. And be it further enacted. That the nc.
cuPants OF land under Ma. Gen'l Sherman,s spe.
cai field order, dated at Savannah, January six
teen, eighteen hundred and sixty-hye, are hereby
confirmed in their possession for the period Of
three years from the date of said order and no
person shall be disturbed in or ousted from said
possession during said three years, unless q set
Element shall be made with said occupant, by the
former owner, satisfactory to the commissioner of
the freedmen's bureau Provided, That, whensv-
or the owners of lands occupied under General
Sherman's field order shall make application for
the restoration Of said lands, the commissioner 10
hereby authorized, upon the agreement and writ
ten consent OF said occupants, 10 procure other
lands FOR them by rent or purchase to set apart
for them, out Of the public lands assigned for
that purpose in four of this BILL forty
each, upon the terms and conditions named in
said section,
Src. 6. And belt further enacted, Thatthe CON-
missioner shall, under the direction of the pres-
dent, procure, in the name of the United States,
by grant or purchase, such lands within the dis
tries aforesaid may be required for refugees and
l freedmen dependent on the government for sup
port; and he shall provide cEuse to be erected
| suitable buildings for asylums and schools. But
| no such purchase shall be made, contract for
/ the same be entered into, other expense n
l Cured, until appropriations shall have been pro
| vided by congress for such purposes. And NO
payments shall be made for lands purchased un.
der this section, except for asylums and schools,
| from any monies not specifically appropriated
| therefor. And the commissioner shall cause such
lands from time to time to be valued, allotted, as
| signed, aud sold in manner and form provided in
the fourth section of this act, az price not less
than the cost thereof to the United States.
SEC. z. And be afurther enacted, That whenev
| er in any state district in which the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings has been interrupt
ed by the rebellion, and wherein, in consequence
| of any state or local Law, ordinance, police oil
o.her regulation, custom, prejudice, any OF the
! civil rights or mmunities belonging to white per
sons, including the right to make and enforce con
tracts to sue, be PartIes and give evidence, to in
herit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey rea
| and personal property, and to have full and equa
benefit OF all laws and proceedings tor security o
| person and estate, including the constitutions
right of bearing aims, are refused or denied to ne
| groes, molattoes, freedmen, refugees or any othe
persons, account OF race, color, or any PREV
Gus condition of slavery a Involuntary servitude
| or wherein they or any Of them are subjected {,
| any other or different punishment, pains, or pen
aities, for the commission OF any act or offence
, than prescribed for white persons committing
like acts II offence, it shall be the duty of tn
| president OF the United States, through the com
missioner, to extend military protection and juris
diction over all cases affecting such persons 6
| Disseminated against.
| SEC. s And De it further enacted, That any per
son who, under color of any state or local law ,or
| dinance, police other regulation custom
SHALL in any state or district In which the ordln
AIRY course OF judicial proceedings has been inter
rupsed by the rebellion and in which the privileg
| OF the writ OF habeas corpus was uspended on tn
first day at February, eighteen hundred and sixty
six, subject or cause to be subjected, any neg
mulatto, freedman, refugee, or other person. on &C
count of race or color, or any previous condtio
of slavery involuntary serviude, for any 9th
er cause, to the deprivation of any civil right Sc
| cured to white persons, or any other or ditferen
| punishment than white persons subject to TO
| the commission OF like acts or offences, shall b
} deemed guilty OF a msdemeanor, and be punishe
| imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both
and il hsll be the duty of the officers and agent
of this bureau to take jurisd lotion of and hear
| determine all offences committed against the pro
vision of this ton, and also OF all affect
ing negroes, mulsttoes freedmen, refugees, or 9th
: er persons who are Disseminated against any @
, | the particulars mentioned IN the preceding sec
| ton OF this act, under such rules and regulation
. as the president of the United States through tn
war department, shall prescribe; the jurisdiction
\ conferred by this and the proceeding section OF
the officers and agents of this bureau shall ceas
| and determine whenever the discrimination &C
| count of winch it is conferred ceases, and NJ
event to be exercised in any state IN which the or
binary course of Judicial proceedings ha. not beer
| interrupted by the rebellion, in any such stat
after said state shall have been fully restored in al
its constitutional relations to the United States
| and the courts of the state and of the United
States within the same not disturbed or stop
ped in tho praceable course of justice.
SEC. y. And be At further enacted, That all act
| or parts of acts, inconsistent with the provision
OF this act, are hereby repealed.