Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-30
me Frsedman's bureau nm.

Ths Freedman's Burean Bill.
One Of the most important legislative
acts Of the present session Of Congress,
hooking as It does to the provision Of pro-
per and adequate means Of protection to
the Southern freedmen, is Senator Will
sons bill to enlarge the powers Of the
Freedmsn's Bureau. This bill passed the
Senate on Thursday by a vote of 81 to 10
"a strict party vota A long eommuni-
cation from Governor Orr, protesting
sgainst one Of is sections-that in rela-
tion to granting the Sea Islands to the
Freedmen-was received too hate to be laid
before the Senate, and for this reason q re-
consideration ofthe bill was movedon Fri
day, but was lost, ayes Is, nass22-Messrs
connsss, Foster, Norton, sprague Van
Wnlcyand Williams voting with
the Democrats IN favor Of reeOnsideretion-
So tho bill is now in the hands of the
House, which will undoubtedly passit with
out delay. Its Importance is SO great that
we are surs our readers will be interested
in q brief abstract of its provisions:
Its hrst section continues the original
act in force, and provides for the district
ing Of the South by the President into
twelve districts, with an Assistant Com
missioner for each, to be appointed from
civil life or detailed from the army, at his
discretion.
Thesecond section empowers the Com
missioner to divide each district into sub
districts with an agent for each, gives As
sistant Commissioners each six clerks, and
Agents two clerks, and extends military
Jurisdiction to all employees Of the Bu-
reau.
The third section authorizes the secre-
tary of War to direct the issue Of prOvis-
ions, clothing, fuel and other supplies, in
sluding medical stores and transportation,
as he deems necessary for the temporary
aid of freedmen and refugees.
The fourth section gives the President
power to reserve from sale or settlement
100000 acres Of unoeeupied lands in
Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, which
shall be assigned at a rental, based on q
valuation of the land, prescribed by the
Commissioner, to the loyal refugees and
freedmen, IN parcels not exceeding forty
acres each. The occupants may purchase
the land at its assessed value.
The fifth section confirms the freedmen
now occupying the Sea Islands, under
General shsrman's special order Of Janu-
ary>le, 1895 in their possession for three
years from that date, unless settlement be
made with the occupant by the owner in
q manner satisfactory to the Commits
sioner.
The sixth sectisn directs the Commits
sioner, under supervision ofths President, to
purchase lands required for the support of
freedmen and to build asylums and schools;
no such lands to be purchased, however,
until appropriations have been made for
that purpose by Congress, and lands SO
purchased not to be sold less than cost.
The seventh section provides that whom
in consequence of local law, ordinance,
regulation, custom or prejudice, the civil
and immunities belonging to white
persons, including the right to make and
enforce general contracts, to sue, to be
and give evidence, to inherit, pur-
chase, lease, sell, hold and convey real
and personal property, and to have full
and equal benefit of all laws and proceed
ings for security of person and estate, arc
or denied to any one on account of
or color, or previous condition of
or whenever they are subjected to
any different punishment for crime than
administered to white persons com
the same crime, the President
Ihall extend military protection and juria-
aiction to them.
The eighth section provides that who
sver subjects any freedman to slavery or
Involuntary servitude except as punish
nent for crime, or discriminates between
white and black in penalties, shall be
punished by fine of ST. goo and ono years
Imprisonment. Officers of the Bureau to
have Jurisdiction Of all such complaints,
10 long as and wherever such discrimin-
alton on account of color continues, and
wherever State and United States Courts
re not in full and peaceful operation.
The whole bill is a very necessary one,
md its provisions seem to us very wise
md excellent. The most important sec
lion of all however, is that having refer
nee to the lands set apart for the freed
men by General Sherman, 1t is a com
promise, fixed BY Congress, between the
feedmen and the original owners Of the
ands. The eolored people are TO keep
hem for three years. BY that time the
government can arrange the matter-giv-
ng them lands elsewhere, if the first own
re are not satisfied to receive damages
rom the government. This is the first of
series Of measures which Congress will
dept during the session for the protect
on Of the freedmen IN the recently slave
'tates.