Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-28


poses, approved June 2, 1862 GER
tain lands of the parishes of st. Helena and
st. Luke. s. @. were bid in by the United
States at public tax sales, and by the hmita-
ton of said act, the time of the redemption of
said lands has expired; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with instructions
issued by President Lincoln on the 10th day
of September, 1862, to the United States
Direct Tax Commissioners for SOuth Caro-
lima, certain lands bid in by the United States
in the parish OF st. Helena in said state, were
sold by the said Tax Commissioners to heads
of families of the African race in parcels of not
more than twenty acres to each pur-
chaser; and
WHEREAs, Under the said instructions the
said Tax Commissioners did set apart certain
parcels oflandin said parish, numbered on their
plats from one to thirty-three inclusive,
making an aggregate of 5000 acres more or
less
Therefore, be it further enacted. That the
sales made to heads of families of the African
race under the instruction of President Lin
cola to the United States District tax COM
missiUners for South Carolina, of the
date of September 10th, 1862, are hereby
confirmed, and established ard all leases
which have been made to such heads of fami-
hes by said direct tax commissioners shall be
changed into certificates of sale in all cases
wherein the lease provides for such substitu-
ton and all the lands now remaining unsOld,
which come within the same designation, be-
of according to said instructions.
SEC.7. That all Otherland bid in by the Uni
ted States at tax sales, being 3S 900 acres more
or less, and now in the hands of the said tax
commissioners as tho property OF the United
States in the parishes of st. Helena and st
Luke, excepting the school farms specified
IN the preceding section, and so much as may
be necessary for military and naval purposes at
Hilton head, Bay Point, and Lands End, and
| excepting also the City of Port Royal and st.
Hi a
be disposed of IN parcels of twenty acres each,
| ut one dollar and fifty cents per acre to such
persons, and TO such only as have acquired and
| are now occupying lands under and agreeably
| to the provisions of Gen, Sherman's special
| field order, dated at Savannah, Georgia, Janu-
| airy 10th, 1865, aud the remaining lands ii any,
| shall be disposed of IN like manner, to persons
as had acquired lands agreeably to said order
| of Gen. Sherman, but which have been dispOs-
sessed by the restoration of the same to
| tine former owners. Provided that the lands
| sold IN compliance with tine provisions of this
| aud Ike preceding section, shall not be alien
| ated by their purchasers within SIX years from
and after the passage this act.
SEC 8 That the school farms in the par
ishes of St Helena s. G. shall be sold subject to
| any leases of the same by the said commits
| si0ners, at public auction, on or before the
| first day of January, 1867, at not less than
| $40 per acre, and the lots IN the city of Port
/ Royal as laid down by the said Tax Commits
Sl0uerS ana the lois anu TIE houses III INC iONB
| of Beaufort, which are still held in like man
! ner, shall be sold at public auction, and the
| proceeds of said sales, after paying the eX-
| Denses of the surveys and sales, shall be H.
| vested in United States bonds, the interest OF
| which shall be appropriated under the direc
| ton of the Commissioner. to the support OF
| schools without distinction of color and
| race, on the Islands, IN the parishes OF St
/ Helena and st. Luke.
| SEC O. That the Assistant Commissioners
| for Georgia and South Carolina are hereby
| authorized to examine all claims to lands III
| their respective States which are claimed I'M
der the provisions of General Shermans spec
| i&l field order; and to give each person having
| a valid claim warrant upon the Direct Tax
| Commissioners for SOuth Carolina for twenty
acres of land; and the said Direct Tax Com
missioners shall Issue to every person. or to
his or her heirs, but ia no case to any as
| signs, presenting such warrant, lease Of
| twenty acres OF land, as provided for In sec
| ton. for the term of six years. But at any
| time thereafter, upon the payment OF sum
| not exceeding 81 50 per acre. the person hold
| ing such lease shall be entitled TO a certificate
| of sale OF said land of twenty acres from the
| Direct Tax Commissioners, or such officers As
| NAV he authorized 10 issue the same, but no
| warrant shall be held valid longer than two
| years after the issue of the same.
| SEC 10. That the Direct Tax Commissioners
| Of South Carolina are hereby authorized and
required at the earliest practicalday to survey
| the lands deslgnated IN sections into lots OF
| twenty acres with proper metes and bounds
| distinctly marked, So that the several tracts
| shall be convenient in form, and as near as
| practicable have an average OF fertility and
| woodland, and the expense of such surveys
| shall be paid from the proceeds OF sales OF
| SAID lands, or, ii sooner required, out OF any
| MONEYS received for other lands on these Is
lands, sold by the United States for taxes
| and now in the hands of the Direct Tax Com
| missiOners.
| SIC, II. That upon completion of the trans
| fer OF said lands, IN the manner specified IN
the preceding section the president Of the Uni
ted States shall restore to their former owners
the lands now occupied by persons under Gen.
| Sherman's special field order, dated Mt Sayan-
nah, Ga, January 10th, 1863, excepting such
lands as have been sold 10y the United States
for taxes, but such restoration shall not be
made until the crops of the present year shall
have been gathered 10y the occupants of said
lands, nor until a fair compensation shall
have been made them for all improvements
or bettermants erected thereon, and after due
notice of the same being done shall have
been given 10y the Assistant Commissioner
SEC L. The Commissioners shall have
power to seize, hold, lease or sell all buildings
and tenements, and any lands aPpeTtaining
to the same or otherwise formerly owned by
or claimed the property of the sO-ealled
Confederate States, and not heretofore disposed
of By the United States, and any buildings
| or lands held in trust for the same by any per-
son or persons, and 70 use the same or apprO-
pirate the proceeds derived therefrom to the
education of the freed people; and whenever
/ the Bureau shall he withdrawn the states
which have made provision for the education
/ of their citizens without distinction OF color
shall receive the snms remaining uneXpended
of such sales or rentals, which shall be dis
tribnled among said states for educational
purposes, Ia proportion To- their population
| SIC Is. That the Commissioner of this Bn-
| reau shall at all times cooperate with private
| benevolent associations of citizens la aid of
| freedmen, and with agents and teachers duly
| accredited and appointed by them, and shall
hire or provide 10y lease bindings Tor pur-
poses OF education, whenever snch assOcIa-
tons shall, without cost to Government, pro-
| vide suitable teachers aud means OF 1nstruc-
ton, and he shall furnish such protection as
| may be required for the safe conduct OF such
| schools.
SEC IA. That in every state or district
| where the ordinary course of judicial proceed
| ings has been interrupted by the rebellion;
| and until the same shall be fully restored; and
| in every state or district whose constitutional
| relations to the Government have been orac-
tically discontinued by the rebellion, and until
| such state shall have been restored in such
/ relations, and shall be duly reprAss@tod IA Tie
| Connrosa- Of united States. the right to
| make and enforce contracts, to sue by parties
| and give evidence to- inherit, pm chase, lease,
| sell, hold and convey real and personal prop
| eriy, aud Ia have full aud eqHai benefit of all
| laws and proceedings concerning personal
liberty, personal security, and the acquisition,
| enjoyment and disposition of estate real and
personal, including the CONSTITUTIONAL right To
! bear arms, shall be secured to aud enjoyed by
ali the citizens of Sucil state or district with
out respect 10 race or color or previous con-
dItIon of slavery; and, whenever. in either of
the said states districts the ordinary course
OF Judicial proceedings has been interrupted
10y the rebellion, and until the same shall be
restored IN Its constitutional relations to the