, 1866-01-27
VIRGINIA YAGRANT LAWS.

Important order from Gen. T9aFFY-
nIodiAcat1dn OF t1.e LAVE tn Respect
10 Wages a8 far ~ theJ ReEzaS to
Freedmem.,
WAsuIyerpx, "Wednesday, Jan, 4a4~
The Vlrgfnm Legislature having enacted .
Law which sells both blacks and whites intc
sezyitade, because thsy unsy refuse to work
lshed by combinations Of employers In ya-i-
Gus parts Of the State. Gen Terry to-day
Issued the following order, mcdif ireg the cJ-
erattons Of the statute SO Ear "a the Freedmen.
: In his department ARE coneerned:
HEApQuAnT1as DErAE71sToTV1 V1nar1A.t
1kNrnA1 oRpsRs, No.. thy sfatRe law
passed ut the present session OF the Legislature OF
y5lgn,s 4 entitled - n'it p.o9iaas tor the
thtns1, thst any Justice Of the Peace, upou the
complaint Of any one Of ceria'n oaicsrR the1ein
named: msy i*sns his ,sasrt for .he apRrshea.toa
person to be appsthenIcd md be bronchs dta3e
him, and tLsi Il, upon cne, exsnnlnatiou, sa.d
vagrant. according to the .ltdnit1In OF v,geansy
contained IN eaid statute, ha tha1l is.ur bis warrant
directing such person to be employed for term
Of the county wherein he psoessdf. W ~ are bad; be
hired ont for the best waes which cau te procured,
ats age. &c 70 be applied TO the support Of himself
The said statute further provides that III case auF
raerant 70 hired SHALL during bis Term or service,
run Away honn bis employer without sulIcieat
eaute. be shall be unprecedented en- tho warrant Of a
Justice Of the Peace and returned to the custody Of
bis employer, who shall then have free of anr fur
hes hlt the services of such Fag1at for one mp1th,
in addition 10 the original term OF hrine, and sat
the employer ehafl then hare pouer II authorized
bya Justice Of the Peace, to work such vagrant
with ball and chain.
The said statute specifies the per.ons whoahalI be
considered Migrants, and be ltabfcto 10 the penalties
imposed By it Among those declared 10 be va4rua1s
aFe ali pcrsont who, not .haslpg ths wheEew1rh TO
support their families live Idly aud without cta.
ploymeut, md refuge to work for the usunl and
common wages given 10 other laoofefs in the like
work in the place where they then aza. In many
counties Of the State meetings or employers have
been held, and unjust and wrongful combinations
have been entered into for the purpose Of epse.s-
Ing the waEes Of the freedmen bccv the real vaiue
mas&crs tor labor performed BY .hsir sayes. sny
reason Of the combinations. wages. utterly tnsde-
9uate 10 the support OF themselves and their fami
lies have In many places become the Msna1 and
e &c ,snte q S' The ssa @ Ts f
fore, 10 compel tbs freedmen. under the penalty
81 punishment - Criminals to acrept aud abor fol
the waces established BY these combinations Of
Of their employers, and it IS easy 10 foresee
that even where no such. combinations nov
the statute will be too strong to be reeietetl-
TINT such inadequate wages viii beeomc the
The ultimate effect 5f ther statutc Uill be to
reduce the freedmen to a condition OF teryituda
wore than that 1om whleh they hare been cnsan-
elpated-a condision which vii be slavery in I'LL
but its namc. 1t IS, therefore. ordered that no
magistrate, civil officer, or other person shall, in
provisions q sad statute lo ~ eotorsd psfson ID
BY command Of Mai. Gcn. a. Il. TERRY.
Assistant AaJntant GeaerA.