The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-23

tant Commissioner not exceeding three
clerks, and to each of said agents one
clerk, at an annual salary not exceed
| ing one thousand dollars ench, provi5
| ded suitable clerks cannot be detailed
| from the army. And the President OF
the United States, through the War
| Department, and the Commissioner,
shall extend military Jurisdiction and
protection over all employees, agents,
| and officers of this Bureau in the eXer-
else OF the duties imposed or authorized
by this act or the act 10 whlch Inns Is
SEQ. g. A,id be Il further enacted, That
| the Secretary of War may direct such
issues of provisions, clothing, fuel, and
| other supplies, including medical stores
and transportation, and afford such AID,
medical or otherwise, as he may deem
needful for the immediate and tempo
rary shelter and supply of destitute and
suffering refugees and freedmen, their
wives and. children, under such rules
and regulations as he may direct: Pro-
uided, That no person shall be deemed
'tdestitute,n Suffering" or "dependent
upon the Government for support"
within the meaning OF this act, who,
being able to find employment, coui9
by proper industry and exertion avoid
such destitution, suffering or depend
ence.
SEQ. 4. And be Il further enacted,
That the President is hereby authorized
| to reserve from sale or from settlement,
under the homestead or presumption
laws, and TO set apart for the use OF
freedmen and loyal refugees, male or
female, unoccupied public lands IN
Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, LOUIS
lana, and Arkansas, not exceeding IN
all three millions of acres OF good Iahu;
and the Commissioner, under the dlrec-
ton of the President, shall cause the
same from time to time TO be allotted
and assigned, i'll parcels not exceeding
forty acres each, to the loyal refugees
and freedmen, who shall be protected
| in the use and enjoyment thereon Tor
such term of time and at such annual
rent as may be agreed on between the
| Commissioner and such refugees or
freedmen. The rental shall be based
upon a valuation of the land, to De as
certained in such manner as the Com
missioner may, under the direction OF
the President, by regulation prescribe:
At the end of such term, or sooner, II
the Commissioner shall assent thereto,
| the occupants of any parcels so assign
ed, their heirs and assigns, may Pur-
chase the land and receive title there
to from the United States in fee, upon
paying therefor the value of the land
ascertained as aforesaid.
SEC. s. And be Il further enacted, Ihat
| the occupants of land under Maj. Gen.
ShermaIi's special field order, dated at
Savannah, January sixteen, eighteen
| hundred and sixty-hve, are hereby
confirmed in their possession for the
period of three years from the date OF
said order, and no person shall be dis
lturbed in or onsted from said posses
sion during said three years, unless n
settlement shall be made with said oc-
cupant, by the former owner, satistac-
i tory to the Commissioner of the Freed
mems Bureau: PropiOted, That when
| ever the owners of lands occupied un-
der General Sherman's field order shail
make application for restoration OF sald
/ lands, the Commissioner is hereby au-
thorized, upon the agreement and with
the written consent of said occupants,
i to procure other lands for them by rent
or purchase, not exceeding forty acres
i for each occupant, or 10 set apart Ior
them, out of the public lands assigned
for that purpose in section four OF this
bill, forty acres each, upon the terms
and conditions named in snid section.
SEQ. s.. Ind be IL further enacted, That
the Commissioner shall, under the d.
rection of the President, procure in the
name ofthe United States, by grant or
purchase, such lands within the dis
1 tricts aforesaid as may be required Tor
refugees and freedmen dependents on the
| Government for support; and he shall
provide or cause to be erected suitable
buildings for asylums and schools. But
no such purchase shall be made, nor
contract for the same entered into, nor
other expense incurred, until after ap55
preparations shall have been provided
by Congress for such purposes. And
no payments shall be made for lands
4 purchased under this section, except
for asylums and schools, from any
moneys not specifically appropriated
therefor. Andthe Commissioner shall
cause such lands from time to time 10
| /. oil .nGafnynad and sold
in manner and form provided in the
fourth section of this act, at price not
less than the cost thereofto the United
States.
SEC. z. lind be It further enacted, That
whenever in any State or district in
which the ordinary course OF 1udicla1
proceedings has been interrupted by the
rebellion, and wherein; in consequence
OF any State or local law, ordinance,
police or other regulation, custom, or
prejudice, any of the civil rights or i'm
mnnities belonging to white persons,
Including the right TO make and enforce
contracts, to sue, be parties, and
lease. sell, hold, and convey
real and personal property, and to have
full and equal benefit of all laws and
proceedings forf of person and
estate, including the constitutional right
of bearing arms, are refused or denied
II
gees, or any other persons, on account
trace, color, or any previous condition
, of slavery or involuntary Servitude, OF
wherein they or any of them are sub
jected to any other or different punish
ment, pains, or penalties, for the COM
mission of any act or officers, than are
prescribed flor white persons commit
ting like acts or offences; it shall be the
duty of .the President of the United
4 States. through the Commissioner, to
extend military protection and juris-
diction over all cases affecting such per-
sons as Disseminated against
SEC. s. Ind belt further enacted, That
any person who, under color of any
State or local law, ordinance, police or
other regulation or custom, shall, in
any State or district In which the ordi-
been interrupted by the rebellion, and
in which the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus was suspended on the
first day of February, eighteen hundred
1 and sixty-six, subject, or cause to be
subjected, any negro, mulatto, freed
man, refugee, or other person, on ac-
count of race or color, or any previous
condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, or for any other cause, to the
deprivation of any civil right secured
i to white persons, or to any other or diff
| ferent punishment than white persons
are subject to for the commission
of like acts or offences, shall be
deemed guilty of a mfsdemeanor,
and be punished by fine not ex,
ceeding one thousand dollars, or impris-
onment not exceeding one year, or
both; and it shall be the duty of the Of
ficers and agents of this Bureau to take
\ jurisdiction of, and hear and determine
| ali offences committed against, the pro-
visions of this section, and also of all