The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-03-07
The Freedmens s Bureau.
The Vetoed Bill.

freedmen in all parts or the United States
and the President may divide the section Of
country within which the privilege Of the
writ u hnje1s corpus was suspended On
The first dag 0f FEBRUARY. 1866. containing
such reII-et~ AMI freedmen, into districts
each continuing one or more States, hot
10 exceed twelve I'D number. and. by aud
with the advice and consent Of tie Senate,
appoint an Assistant Commissioner for
each OF said districts who shall give Ike
bond, receive the compensation and perform
the duties prescribed hy this and the act to
which this is an amendment ,OT said bureau
may, in the discretion Of the President be
placed under a Commissioner and Assistant
Commissioners, % be detailed from the
army. ID which event each officer 80 as
signed % duty shall serve without increase
Of pay or allowances.
SEC . lud BE- H further enacted That
the Commissioner, with the approval Of tie
President. and when the same shall be
necessary for the operations Of the Bureau,
may divide each district into d number of
>uO-dis,rct- not 10 exceed the number Of
counties or parishes in such district, and
shall assign ID each sub.distnct at least one
agent. either a citizen, officer of the army.
or enlisted man. who, il an officer, shall
serve without additional compensation or
allowance and ii a citizen or enlisted man,
shall receive a salary OF not less than five
hundred dollars nor more than twelve hun
Gred dollar, annually, according TO the
services rendered, in full compensation for
such services; and such agent shall, before
entering on the duties OF his office, take
the oath prescribed 10 the iirst section OF
the act TO which this IS an amendment.
And the Commissioner may, when the same
shal! be necessary, assign TO each Assist
ant Commissioner not exceeding three
clerks and 10 each of said agents one clerk
at an annual salary not exceeding one
thousand dollars each, provided suitable
clerks cannot he detailed from the army.
Ana the President Of the United States.
through the War Department, and the
Commissioner, shall extend military juris-
dictlon and protection over all employees.
agents aud officers of this Bureau in the
exercise of the duties imposed or author
lied 10y this act or the act TO which this is
additional.
SEC. ,. Ant be IL further enacted, That
the Secretary Of War NAV direct such is
sues Of provisions, clothing, fuel and other
supplies, including medical stores and
transpOrtatin. and afford such aid, medical
or otherwise, as he may deem needul tor
the immediate and temporary shelter and
supply OF destitute and suffering refugees
and freedmen. their wives and children,
under such rules and regulations as be
may direct: PrOrded, That no person shall
be deemed " destitute" suffering" or
" dependent upon the Government for sup
port, within the meaning OF this act, who,
being able TO lind employment, could by
proper industry and exertiOn avoid such
distinction, suffering, or dependence.
SEC. +. And be U flTther enacted. That
the President IS hereby authorized 10 re-
serve from sale or frOm sSt.loaas.t onl lar
the homestead or preemptlOn laws, and 10
set apart for the use Of freedmen aud loyal
refugees, male or female, unOccupied pub
lie lands in Florida, Mississippi Alabama,
louisiana, 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 10 be allotted and assigned, in
parcels not exceeding forty acres each, 10
the loyal refugees aud freedmen, who shall
be protected in the use and enjoyment
thereof for such term OF time and at such
annual rent IS may be agreed on between
the Commissioner and such refugees or
freedmen. The rental shall be based upon
valuation OF the land 10 be ascertalned
in such manner as the Commissioner may,
under the direction of the President, 10y
regulation prescribe. At the end Of such
term, or sooner, il the Commissioner shall
assent thereto, the occupants OF any par
GELS so assigned, their heirs and assigns,
may purchase the land and receive a title
thereto from the United States in fee, upOu
paying therefor the value Of the land ascer-
tanned as aforesaid.
SEC. 5. And be t tyrther enacted, That
the occupants OF land under Maj. Gen.
Sherman's special field order, dated at Sa-
vannah, January eittSon. oighfaan hHnd-oa
and sixty-five, are hereby confirmed IN theu
possession Tor the period Of three year:
from the date Of said order, and no person
shall be disturbed in or Ousted from salt
position during said three years, unless 9
settlement shall be nude with said Occu
pant, by the former owner, satisfactory tC
the Commissioner Of the Freedmen's Bureau
PrOriied That whenever the owners o
lands occupied under General Sherman
field order shall make application for res
toratiOn OF said lands the Commissioner /.
hereby authorized, upon the agreement anC
with the written consent OF said occupants
to procure other lands for them by rent O
purchase, not exceeding forty acres 10
each occupant, or TO set apart for them
out Of the public lands assigned for tha
purpose in section four of this bill. fort.
! acres each, upon the terms and condition
named in said section.
SEC. 8. Aud be IL flrtler enacted, Tha
the Commissioner, shall, under the direC
| ton of the President. procure in the nam
OF the United States, by grant or purchase
such lands within the districts aforesaid a
may be required for refugees and freedme
/ dependent OF the Government for support
and he shall provide or cause TO be erecte
suitable buildings for aSvlums and school.
! But no such purchase shall be made, no
contract for the same entered into, no OtL
er expense incurred, until after apprOpria
! tiOns shall have been provided by Congress
for such purposes. And 10 payments sha
be made for lands purchased under thi
section, except for asylums and school:
from any moneys not specially appropriate
therefor And the Commissioner sha
cause such lands from time to time TO o
valued, allotted, assigned and sold in mar
ner and form provided in the fourth sectio
of this act, at price not less than the CO:
thereof 10 the United States.
! CEI. q dt~ ~ t- y iAFLttf' eftICftI. 1 Ut
whenever in any State or district in whic
the ordinary course Of judicial proceeding
has been interrupted by the rebellion. an
wherein, II consequence Of am State c
local law, ordinance, police or Otler regJ
latiOn, or prejudice, any OF the civE right
or Immunities belonging TO white persons
including the right 10 make and enicrC
contracts, 10 sue, be parties, aud give e.
dence, 10 inherit, purchase. lease. sell. bOl'
and convey real and personal property ar
10 have full and equal benefit OF all Law
and proceedings for security Of person al
estate, including the cOnstitui iOnai right
. bearing arms, are refused or denied TO q
groes, mulattOes, freedmen, refugees,
any other persons, on account OF rae
color, or any previous condition Of slave
or involuntary servitude, or wherein tn,
or any Of them are subjected TO any 9th
or different punishment, pains, OF penaltie
: Tor the commission OF any act or ofienc
than are prescribed for white persons COZ
mitung Ike acts or offences. il shall be =
duty OF the President Of the United State
= through the Commissioner. to extend N
ltary protection and jurisdiction over
cases affecting such persons so discrimin
ted against.
SEC. ;. AH1 Be Il further enacted Tn