Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-23
[From the Cincinnati CommsfeiAl.l
THE FREEDMEN'N BUREAU BILL


"SECTIoN /. That the act to establish a
Bureau FOR the relief OF freedmen and refu-
gees, approved March 3, 1866, shall con-
tinue In force until otherwise provided by
| law; shall extend to refugees and freedmen
| in certain parts of the United States; and the
President may divide the section OF coun-
try containing such refugees aud freedmen
into districts, each Containing one or more
States, not TO exceed twelve in number;
and by and with the advice and consent OF
the Senate, appoint al Assistant Commits
soner for each Of said districts, who shall
! give the same bonds and receive the same
| compensation and perform the same 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 Commissioner and Assistant Com
missioner, to be detailed from the army, in
which event such officer so assigned to duty
shall serve without increase tof pay or al
| lowances.
| s.SEcs2, That the Commissioner, with the
approval of the President, shall divide each
| district into q number of sub-districts, not
to exceed the number of counties or par
ishes in each State, and shall assign to each.
sub-district at least one agent, either cit
izen, an officer of the army, or enlisted man,
who, ifan officer, shall serve without addl-
tional compensation or allowance; and II a
citizen or enlisted man, shall receive sal
ary not exceeding $l,500 per annum; and
such agent shall, before entering on the du-
| ties of his office, take the oath prescribed IN
| the first section of the act,tO which this Is
an amendment. Each Assistant COmmis-
| siOner may employ not exceeding six
clerks, one OF the third class and five Of the
| first class; and each agent of sub-district
may employ two clerks of the first class.
And the President-o of the United States,
through the War Departmental and the Com
missioner, shall extend military jurisdlc-
tion oyer: all the employees, agents and Off
GERS of this Bureau, in the exercise Of the
duties imposed or authorized by this act,
or the act to which this act is supplement-
ary. . ..aI,,, D.
| "SEC. 3. 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
lneedful for the immediate and temporary
shelter and supply of destitute and suffer-
ing refugees and freedmen and their wives
and children, under such rules and regula-
tions as he may direct.
'ISEc. 4. That the President be authoriz-
ed to reserve from sale or from settlement
under the Homestead or Presumption laws,
and loyal refugees unoccupied public lands
in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, not
exceeding in all three millions of acres OF
good land; and the Commissioner under
the direction of the President shall cause
the same from time to time to be allotted
and consigned in parcels not exceeding
forty acres each to the loyal refugees and
freedmen, who shall be protected in the use
and enjoyment thereof for such term OF
time and at such annual rent as may be
agreed upon by the Commissioner and such
refugees and freedmen. The rental shall
be based upon a valuation OF the land, to be
ascertained in such manner as the Com
missioner may, under direction of the Pres
ident, by regulation prescribe at the end of
such term, or sooner If the Commissioner
shall assent thereto. The occupants of any !
parcels assigned may purchase land and
receive the title thereto from the United
Statesin fee, upon paying therefor the value
Of the land ascertained as aforesaid. q"
''SEC. 8. That the occupants of land under
Major General Sherman's Special Field Or
der, dated at Savannah, January 16, 1865, I
are hereby, confirmed In their possessions |
for the period of three years from the date
of said order, and no person shall be dis |
turbed in or onsted from said possession !
during said three years unless a settlement 4
shall be made with the said occupant by the |
owner satisfactory to the Commissioner of |
the FTeedmen's Bureau.
''SEc. 6. That the Commissioner shall, un- |,
der the direction of the President, procure |
in the name of the United States, by grant |
or purchase, such lands within the district |
aforesaid as may be required tor. refugees |
and freedmen dependent upon the Govern |
heIt for support, and he shall provide or
cause to be built suitable asylums and |
schools. But no such. purchase shall be |
made, nor contract for. the same entered |
upon, nor other expense Incurred, until af- |
ter appropriations shall have been provided |
by Congress for the general purposes of !
this act, out of which payments for said |
lands shall be made 3 and the Commission |
shall cause such lands from time to time to |
be valued, allotted, assigned and sold, in |
the manner and form provided in the pre-
ceding sections, provided always that the
said lands shall not be sold for less than the
cost thereof to the United States. g lllJRGa
'SEC. z. That whenever in any State or |
district in which the ordinary course of ju-
diciap proceedings has been interrupted by /
the rebellion, and wherein, i'm consequence
of any State or local law, ordinance, police,
or other regulations custom or prejudice,
any of the civil rights or immunities be-
longing to white persons, including the
right to make and enforce general contracts,
to sue, to be parties and give evidence, toll
inherit, purchase lease, sell, hold and con-
Vey real aud personal property, and to have
full and equal benefit of all laws, and pro-
ceedings for the security Of person and es-
tate, are refused or denied to negroes, NIL
lattoes and freedmen, or refugees or any
other persons on account of race, color or
any previous condition Of slavery or in
voluntary servitude, except as punish
ment for crime, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, or wherein they,
or anytof them, are subjected to any other
or different punishment, pains or penalties
for the commission of any act or offense
than are prescribed for white persons COM
nitting like acts or offenses, it shall be the
duty of the President of the United States,
the Commissioned, to, extend mill
tary protection and Jurisdiction over all
cases affecting sdch' ,persons'so discrimihaI
ted against. .'alFi Il
'SEC. 8. That any person who, under coll
or of any State or local law, ordinance, po-
lice or other regulation or CUSTOM. shall, in
any State or districtin which the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings has been in
terrupted by the rebellion, subject or cause
to be subjected any negro, mulatto, freed
man, refugee or other person on account of
race or color, or any previous condition.
of slavery or involuntary servitude,
except as punishment for crime,
whereof the, party shall have been
duly convicted, or for any other
cause to the deprivation OF any civil right
secured to white persons, or to any other |
or different punishment than white persons
are subject to for the commission of like