Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-19
THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU BILL.

|
Bureau bill which has just passed Congress over
the veto of the President
An act to continue in force and to amend &C. an
act to establish bureau for the relief of freedmen
and refugees, and for other purposes.
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
se1atattves Of he United States Of America in Congress
assembled That the act to establish bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, approved
March B, 1865, shall continue in force for the
term of two years from and after the passage of
this act.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the su-
pervlslon and care of said bureau shall extend to
all loyal refugees and freedmen so far as the same
shall be necessary to enable them speedily as
practicable to become self-supporting citizens of
the United States, and to aid them in making the
freedom conferred by proclamation of the com
mander-ln-chief, by emanci patton under the
laws of States and by constitutional amendment,
available to them and beneficial to the Republic.
| SEC. 3. And be 1t further enacted That the Presi-
dent SHALL by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, appoint two assistant commissioners,
In addition to those authorized by the act to which
this is an amendment, who shall give like bonds
and receive the same annual salaries provided in
said act, and each of the assistant commissioners
of the bureau shall have charge of one district
containing such refugees Or freedmen, to be as
signed him by the commissioner, with the approx
al of the President. And the commissioner shall,
under the direction of the President and so far
the same shall be, in his Judgment, necessary for
the efficient and economical administration of the
affairs of the bureau, appoint such agents, clerks
and assistants as may be required for the proper
conduct of the bureau. Military officers or enlist
ed men may be detailed for service and assigned
to duty under this act and the President may,
if in his Judgment safe and judicious to do, de-
tail from the army all the officers and agents of
this bureau ; but no officer assigned shall have
increase of pay allowances. Each agent or
clerk, not heretofore authorized by law not being
a military officer shall have annual salary of
not less than five hundred dollars, nor more than
| twelve hundred dollars, according to the service
required of him. And it shall be the duty of the
Commissioner when it can be done consistently
with public interest, to appoint, assistant
missoners, agents, and clerks, such men as have
proved their loyalty by faithful service in the
mics of the Union during the rebellion. And all
persons appointed to service under this act, and
| to which this is amendment shall be SO far
deemed in the military service of the United States
as to be under the military jurisdiction and entitled
to the military protection of the Government while
in discharge of the duties of their Office.
Sec 4. And be ii further enacted, That officers
of the Veteran Reserve Corps of the volunteer SER
vice, now duty in the Freedmens Bureau as
assistant commissioners agents, medical officers
OF in capacities, whose regiments corps have
been may hereafter be mustered out of service,
may be retained upon such duty officers of said
bureau, with the same compensation is
provided by law for their respective grades and
the Secretary of War shall havedoower to fill va
cancies until other officers be detailed in their
places without detriment to the public service.
| SEC. 5. Andbe further enacted, That the second
section of the act to which this is amendment
shall be deemed to authorize the Secretary of War
to issue such medical stores other supplies and
transportation, and afford such medical or other
aid as may be needful for the purposes named in
said section; Prorided That no person shall be
deemed " destitute, &C suffering" or dependent
upon the Government for support" within the
meaning of this act, who is able to find employ
ment, and could, by proper industry or exertion,
avoid such restitution, suffering, or dependence
SEC. 6. IEhereas, BY the provisions of an act
approved February sixth, eighteen hundred and
sixty-three, entitled An act to amend an act en-
titled An act for the collection of direct taxes in
nsurrectionary districts within the United States
and for other purposes, approved June seventh,
leighteen hundred and sixty-two, certain lands in
the parishes of Saint Helena and Saint Luke,
South Carolina bid in by the United States
at public tax sales, and by the limitation of said
act the time of redemption of said lands has
lpired and whereas in accordance with instruc-
tons issued by President Lincoln on the sixteenth
day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty
three, to the United States direct tax commission
ers for South Carolina certain lands bid in by the
United States In the parish OF Saint Helena, in
said State, in part sold by the said tax
missioners to ''heads of families of the African
race. in parcels of not more than twenty acres to
each purchaser and whereas under the said in
sructions the said tax commissioners did also set
apart school-farms certain parcels of land in
said parish, numbered in their plats from to
thirty three inclusive, making aggregate of six
thousand acres more or less. Therefore, be 1t fatr-
Tier eHQCte0 mat the sales maze TO ~ neaQS OF
families of the African race, under the instruc-
tions of President Lincoln to the United States
| Direct Tax Commissioners for South Carolina, of
date of September IT, 1863 are hereby confirmed
and established &C and all leases which have been
made to such heads of families by said Direct
Tax Commissioners, shall be changed into certif-
Gates of sale in all wherein the lease provides
for such substitution and all the lands
manning unsold which come within the de-
signation, being eight thousand acres, or
less shall be disposed of according to said instruc
tiOns.
SEC 7. Andbe IT. further enacted, That all other
lands bid in by the United States at tax sales, be-
ing thirty-eight thousand acres, or less, and
now in the hands of the said tax commissioners
as the property of the United States in the par
ishes of Saint Helena and st. Luke, excepting the
g schoo FARMS, as specified in the preceding sec
tion and so much may be necessary for militia
nv and naval purposes at Hilton Head, Bay Point,
and Lands End, and excepting also the city of
Port Royal on Saint Helena island, and the town
of Beaufort snail be disposed of in parcels of
twenty acres at one dollar and fifty cents per acre,
to such persons and to such only as have acquired
and are now occupying lands under and agreeably
to the provisions of General Sherman special field
order dated at Savannah, Georgia, January six
teenth eighteen hundred and sixty-fve, and the
remaining lands, If any, shall be disposed OF In
like manner to such persons as had acquired lands
aereeably to the said order of General Sherman, |
but who have been dispossessed by the restora- |
ton of the same to former owners P1ooaded, |
That the lands sold in compliance with the pro-
visions of this and the preceding section shall not
be alienated by their purchasers within SIX years
from and after the passage of this act.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the
"school farms in the parish of Saint Helena,
South Carolina, shall be sold, ubject to any leases
of the same, by the said tax commissioners, at
G<c% l0ry 1852 4ro