The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-25
THE VETOED BILL.


-8 5 u ss
THE FREEDMExs BUREAU.
! An Act to amend An Act entitled IAN Act TO
/ establish Bureau for the relief Of Freed.
men and Refugees" and for othefpurposes.
BE IL enacted DC. That the act to establish
Bureausfor the relief of freedmen and refu.
gees, approved March Sd, 1865, shall con
finue in force until otherwise provided by
law, and shall extend to refugees snd freed
men in all parts of the United States, and the
President may divide the section of country
| within which the privilege Of the writ of
| hdbeds corpus was suspended on the FIRST day
of February. 1855, containing such refugees
! and freedmen, into districts each containing
ono or more States, not to exceed twelve 10
number, and by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, sppoint an assistant com.
missioner for each of said districts, who shall
give like bond, receive the compensation and
perform the duties prescribed by this and the
act to which this is an amendment: or said
! bureau may, in the discretion Of the President,
/ be placed under y commissioned and ASH SAINT
commissioners, to be detailed from the army,
in which event each officer 50 assigned TO
duty shall serve without increase Of nav or
allowance.
| SEC. z A,,d be IL further enacted, That
the Commissioner, with the approval Of the
President, and when the same shall be neces-
| ssry for the operations Of the Bureau, may
| divide each district into number Of sub dis
tricts, not to exceedthe number Of counties or
parishes in such district, and shall assign to
each sub district at least one agent, either a
citizen, officer Of the army, or enlisted man,
who, if an officer, shall serve without addi
tional compensation or allowance, and If q
.t..I~ L
OF not less than Eve hundred nor more than
twelve hundred dollars annually, according to
the services rendered, in full compensation
for such services, and such agent shall. before
entering upon the duties of his Office take the
oath prescribed in the first section of the act 10
| which this is an amendment md the Commits
sioner may, when the same shall be neces-
| sary, assign to each Assistant Commissioner
not exceeding three clerks, and to each of said
agents one clerk, at An annual salary not
exceeding one thousand dollars each. PROV
| ded suitable clerks cannot be detailed from
the army. And the President Of the United
| States through the War Department, and the
| Commissions, shall extend military jurisdir.
ton and protection over all employees, agents
and officers Of this Burean in the exercise OF
the duties imposed or authorized by this act
or the act to which this Ia additional.
! SEC. 8. And be ii further enacted, That the
| Secretary Of War M, 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
temporary shelter and supply of destitute and
suffering refugees and freedmen, their wives
and children, under such rules and regulations
"a he ma. direct: Provided. That no person
| shall be deemed destitute suffering" or
| dependent upon the Government for sup.
| port" within the meaning Of this act who.
being ahle to find employment. could by
proper industry and exertion avoid such desti
tuition suffering or dependence
SEC. 4. Ind be ii further enacted That the
President is hereby authorized TO reserve
from sale or from settlement, under the home
stead or pre- emption laws, and 10 set apart
for the use of freedmen and loyal refugees.
| male or female, unoccupied public lands in
Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, louisiana
and Arkansas, not exceeding in all three
millions of acres of good land; and the Com
missioner, under the direction of the Presi-
dent, shall cause the same from time to time
to be allotted and assigned, in parcels not
exceeding forty acres each, to the loyal ref,i.
gees and freedmen, who shall be protected in
the use and enjoyment thereof for such term
of time and at such annual rent as NAV be
such refugees or freedmen. The rental shall
be based upon a valuation Of the land. TO lie
ascertained IN such manner as the Commits.
sioner may, under the direction of the Prcsi-
dent, by regulation prescribe. At the end of
such term, or sooner, if the Commissioner
shall assent thereto, the occupants of any
parcels SO assigned, their heirs and assigns,
may purchase the land and receive title
thereto from the United States in fee. upon
paying therefor the value Of the land ascer-
tanned as aforesaid.
SEC. 8. dnd be il further enacted. That the
occupants of land under Maj. Gen. Shermans
special field order, dated at Savannah, Jan.
IT, 1865, are hereby confirmed in their pos.
session 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 settlement
shall be made with said occupant, by the for.
mer owner, satisfactory to the Commissioner
OF the Freedmen's Bureau Provided, That
whenever the owners Of lands occupied under
Gen. Sherman field order shall make ap-
pication for restoration Of said lands, the
Commissioner is hereby authorized upon the
agreement and with the written consent of
SAID occupants, to procure other lands for
them by rent or purchase, not exceeding for
ty acres for each occupant or to set apart
for them, out Of the public lands assigned for
that purpose in section four of this bill, forty
acres each, uron the terms and conditions
named in said section.
SEC. 6. And be it. further enacted, That the
Commissioner shall, under the direction of
the President, procure in the name of the
| nlted States, by grant or purchase, such
lands within the districts as aforesaid as may
be required for refugees and freedmen depen-
dent on the government for support; and he
shall provide Or cause to be erected, suitable
buildings for asyums and schools But no
such purchase shall be made, nor contract for
the same entered into, nor other expense
incurred, until after appropriations shall have
been provided by Congress for suoh purposes
And no payments shall be made for lands
purchased under this section, except for asy-
lums and schools, from any moneys not espe-
ciaiy appropriated therefor. And the Com
missioner shall cause such lands from time to
time to be valued, allotted, assigned, and sold
in manner and forra provided in the fourth
section of this act. at a cost not less than the
cost thereof to the United States.
SEC. T. And be IL further enacted. That
whenever in any State or district in which the
ordinary course of judicial proceeding 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 immu-
mites belonging to white persons, including
the rig lit 10 make and enforce contracts, to
she, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit.
purchase, lease. sell, hold and convey real and
personal property, and to have full and equal
benefit OF eli laws and proceedings for security
OF person and estate including the constitution
al nght OF bearing arms, are refused or denied