Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-18
Freedsnen's Bureau.

Senator Trumbull's bill 10 enlarge the
Freedmen's Bureau provided that the act
establishing bureau for the relief of freed
men and refugees, approved March Sd, 1866
shall continue in force until otherwise pro-
yided by law, and shall be extended to re-
fugees and freedmen in all parts of the Uni
ted States; and the President may divide the
section Of country containing such refugees
and freedmen into districts, each containing
one or more States, not exceeding twelve in
number, and by advice and consent of the
Senate appoint an assistant commissioner
Of such districts, who shall give like bond
and receive the same duties prccribcd by
this act; or said bureau, in the discretion Of
the President, be placed under Commits
sioner and Assistant Commissioner, 30 be
detailed from the army, in which event each
officer SO assigned TO duty snail serve with
out increase Of pay or allowance.
Section two provides for the division of
the districts into sub-districts and the APP
pointment Of clerks, and authorizes the
President TO extend military supervision
and protection over all employees, agents
and other officers.
Section three authorizes the Secretary of
War 10 issue provisions, fuel clothing, DC,
for refugees and freedmen.
Section four authorizes the President to
reserve for sale, or for settlement under the
presumption law, and 10 set apart for freed
men and loyal refugees unoccupied lands
in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, not
exceeding in all three hundred thousand
acres Of good lands, and the Commissioner
under the direction Of the President, shall
cause the same from time 10 time 10 be allot-
ted and assigned in parcels not exceeding
forty acres each to loyal refugees and freed
men, who shall be protected in the uses and
enjoyment thereof for such term of time
at such annual rents as may be agreed upon
between the Commissioner and each refugee
OF freedman. which shall be based on the
valuation of the land, 10 be ascertained in
such a manner as the Commissioner, under
the direction Of the President, by regulation
prescribe at the end Of such a time, or SOON
er IL the Commissioner shall assent thereto,
the occupants Of any parcels so assigned
may purchase the land and receive the title
thereto from the United States in fee upon
paying therefor the value Of the land ascer-
tanned as aforesaid.
Sec. 9Th, That the possessitory titles gran
ted in pursuance of Maj. Gen. Sherman's
special field order, dated Savannah, Jan. 16,
1865, are hereby confirmed and made valid.
Sec. 9th, That the commissioner shall
under direction Of the President procure in
the name Of the United States, by graft or
purchase, such land within the district
aforesaid, as may be required, for refugees
and freedmen dependent on the Government
for support, and he shall provide, or cause
10 be built asylums and schools; but no such
purchase shall be made, nor contract for the
same entered into, nor other expenses incur
red, until after appropriations shall have
been provided by Congress for the general
purposes OF this act, out Of which payment
for said lands shall be made; and the Com
missioners shall cause such lands, from
time 20 time, 10 be valued allot.e,., assigned,
and sold in the and form provided in the
preceding section, provided, always. that
said land shall not be sold for less than the
cost thereof to the United States
Sec. 9Th, authorizes the President 10 ex-
tend the military protection 20 freedmen in
all cases Of laws making discrimination
against them on account Of color.
Sec. sth, precribes the puhishmenssfor
subiecting freedmen TO slavery.