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LawCreatingtheFreedmen'sBureau

CHAP.XC.AnActtoestablishaBureaufortheReliefofFreedmenandRefugees. Sec.1.BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesof AmericainCongressassembled,ThatthereisherebyestablishedintheWarDepartment,to continueduringthepresentwarofrebellion,andforoneyearthereafter,abureauofrefugees, freedmen,andabandonedlands,towhichshallbecommitted,ashereinafterprovided,the supervisionandmanagementofallabandonedlands,andthecontrolofallsubjectsrelatingto refugeesandfreedmenfromrebelstates,orfromanydistrictofcountrywithintheterritory embracedintheoperationsofthearmy,undersuchrulesandregulationsasmaybeprescribed bytheheadofthebureauandapprovedbythePresident.Thesaidbureaushallbeunderthe managementandcontrolofacommissionertobeappointedbythePresident,byandwiththe adviceandconsentoftheSenate,whosecompensationshallbethreethousanddollarsper annum,andsuchnumberofclerksasmaybeassignedtohimbytheSecretaryofWar,not exceedingonechiefclerk,twoofthefourthclass,twoofthethirdclass,andfiveofthefirst class.Andthecommissionerandallpersonsappointedunderthisact,shall,beforeentering upontheirduties,taketheoathofofficeprescribedinanactentitledAnacttoprescribeanoath ofoffice,andforotherpurposes,approvedJulysecond,eighteenhundredandsixtytwo,and thecommissionerandthechiefclerkshall,beforeenteringupontheirduties,givebondstothe treasureroftheUnitedStates,theformerinthesumoffiftythousanddollars,andthelatterinthe sumoftenthousanddollars,conditionedforthefaithfuldischargeoftheirdutiesrespectively, withsecuritiestobeapprovedassufficientbytheAttorneyGeneral,whichbondsshallbefiledin theofficeofthefirstcomptrollerofthetreasury,tobebyhimputinsuitforthebenefitofany injuredpartyuponanybreachoftheconditionsthereof. SEC.2.Andbeitfurtherenacted,ThattheSecretaryofWarmaydirectsuchissuesof provisions,clothing,andfuel,ashemaydeemneedfulfortheimmediateandtemporaryshelter andsupplyofdestituteandsufferingrefugeesandfreedmenandtheirwivesandchildren,under suchrulesandregulationsashemaydirect. SEC.3.Andbeitfurtherenacted,ThatthePresidentmay,byandwiththeadviceandconsentof theSenate,appointanassistantcommissionerforeachofthestatesdeclaredtobein insurrection,notexceedingteninnumber,whoshall,underthedirectionofthecommissioner, aidintheexecutionoftheprovisionsofthisactandheshallgiveabondtotheTreasurerofthe UnitedStates,inthesumoftwentythousanddollars,intheformandmannerprescribedinthe firstsectionofthisact.Eachofsaidcommissionersshallreceiveanannualsalaryoftwo thousandfivehundreddollarsinfullcompensationforallhisservices.Andanymilitaryofficer maybedetailedandassignedtodutyunderthisactwithoutincreaseofpayorallowances.The commissionershall,beforethecommencementofeachregularsessionofcongress,makefull reportofhisproceedingswithexhibitsofthestateofhisaccountstothePresident,whoshall communicatethesametocongress,andshallalsomakespecialreportswheneverrequiredto

dosobythePresidentoreitherhouseofcongressandtheassistantcommissionersshall makequarterlyreportsoftheirproceedingstothecommissioner,andalsosuchotherspecial reportsasfromtimetotimemayberequired. SEC.4.Andbeitfurtherenacted,Thatthecommissioner,underthedirectionofthePresident, shallhaveauthoritytosetapart,fortheuseofloyalrefugeesandfreedmen,suchtractsofland withintheinsurrectionarystatesasshallhavebeenabandoned,ortowhichtheUnitedStates shallhaveacquiredtitlebyconfiscationorsale,orotherwise,andtoeverymalecitizen,whether refugeeorfreedman,asaforesaid,thereshallbeassignednotmorethanfortyacresofsuch land,andthepersontowhomitwassoassignedshallbeprotectedintheuseandenjoymentof thelandforthetermofthreeyearsatanannualrentnotexceedingsixpercentumuponthe valueofsuchland,asitwasappraisedbythestateauthoritiesintheyeareighteenhundredand sixty,forthepurposeoftaxation,andincasenosuchappraisalcanbefound,thentherental shallbebasedupontheestimatedvalueofthelandinsaidyear,tobeascertainedinsuch mannerasthecommissionermaybyregulationprescribe.Attheendofsaidterm,oratanytime duringsaidterm,theoccupantsofanyparcelssoassignedmaypurchasethelandandreceive suchtitletheretoastheUnitedStatescanconvey,uponpayingthereforthevalueoftheland,as ascertainedandfixedforthepurposeofdeterminingtheannualrentaforesaid. SEC.5.Andbeitfurtherenacted,Thatallactsandpartsofactsinconsistentwiththeprovisions ofthisact,areherebyrepealed. APPROVED,March3,1865.

U.S.,StatutesatLarge,Treaties,andProclamationsoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,vol.13 (Boston,1866),pp.5079.

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