Com missioner may hold and sell buildings held by and not disposed of, etc. Proceeds, how SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That the commisall lands and sioner shall have power to seize, hold, use, lease, or sell the so-called Con- all buildings and tenements, and any lands appertaining federate States to the same, or otherwise, formerly held under color of title by the late so-called confederate states, and not heretofore disposed of by the United States, and any buildings or lands held in trust for the same by any person or persons, and to use the same or appropriate the proceeds deapplied. rived therefrom to the education of the freed people; and When bureau whenever the bureau shall cease to exist, such of said unexpended so-called confederate states as shall have made provision sums to go where. for the education of their citizens without distinction of color shall receive the sum remaining unexpended of such sales or rentals, which shall be distributed among said states for educational purposes in proportion to their population. ceases to exist, to cooperate with lent associations Com missioner SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the commisprivate benevo- sioner of this bureau shall at all times co-operate with in aid of freed- private benevolent associations of citizens in aid of freedmen, etc.; to pro- men, and with agents and teachers, duly accredited and vide buildings and furnish teach-appointed by them, and shall hire or provide by lease buildings for purposes of education whenever such associations shall, without cost to the government, provide suitable teachers and means of instruction; and he shall furnish such protection as may be required for the safe conduct of such schools. ers and protection. Immunities and rights of all citi certain States and districts. SEC. 14. And be it further enacted, That in every State zens declared in or district where the ordinary course of judicial proceedings 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 practically discontinued by the rebellion, and until such State shall have been restored in such relations, and shall be duly represented in the Congress of the United States, the right to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property, and to have full and equal 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 and enjoyed by all the citizens of such State or district without respect to race or color, or previous condition of slavery. And Certain States whenever in either of said States or districts the ordiunder military nary course of judicial proceedings has been interrupted protection and by the rebellion, and until the same shall be fully restored, and until such State shall have been restored in its constitutional relations to the government, and shall be duly represented in the Congress of the United States, the President shall, through the commissioner and the officers of the bureau, and under such rules and regulations as the President, through the Secretary of War, shall prescribe, extend military protection and have mil or districts to be jurisdiction. No discrimina previous condi bureau not to ex itary jurisdiction over all cases and questions concerning the free enjoyment of such immunities and rights, and no tion on account of penalty or punishment for any violation of law shall race or color or be imposed or permitted because of race or color, or pre- tion of slavery. vious condition of slavery, other or greater than the penalty or punishment to which white persons may be liable by law for the like offence. But the jurisdiction Jurisdiction of conferred by this section upon the officers of the bureau ist in certain shall not exist in any State where the ordinary course cease in every of judicial proceedings has not been interrupted by the State when, etc. rebellion, and shall cease in every State when the courts of the State and the United States are not disturbed in the peaceable course of justice, and after such State shall be fully restored in its constitutional relations to the government, and shall be duly represented in the Congress of the United States. States, and to of bureau to take clause. SEC. 15. And be it further enacted, That all officers, All officers, etc., agents, and employés of this bureau, before entering upon oath. Repealing the duties of their office shall take the oath prescribed in the first section of the act to which this is an amendment; and all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President of the Senate pro tempore. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U. S., July 16, 1866. The President of the United States having returned to the House of Representatives, in which it originated, the bill entitled "An act to continue in force and to amend 'An act to establish a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees,' and for other purposes," with his objections thereto, the House of Representatives proceeded, in pursuance of the Constitution, to reconsider the same; and Resolved, That the said bill pass, two thirds of the House of Representatives agreeing to pass the same. Attest: EDW. MCPHERSON, Clerk H. Reps., U. S. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, July 16, 1866. The Senate having proceeded, in pursuance of the Constitution, to reconsider the bill entitled "An act to continue in force and to amend 'An act to establish a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees,' and for other purposes," returned to the House of Representatives by the President of the United States, with his objections, and sent by the House of Representatives to the Senate with the message of the President returning the bill; Resolved, That the bill do pass, two thirds of the Senate agreeing to pass the same. Attest: J. W. FORNEY, Secretary of the Senate, U. S. of bureau of refu [14 Stat. L., p. 545.] AN ACT To regulate the disposition of an irregular fund in the custody of the Freedmen's Bureau. Whereas the commissioner of the bureau of refugees, freedmen and abandoned lands reports a retained bounty fund, derived from a portion of the State bounties of certain colored soldiers enlisted in Virginia and North Carolina, during the years eighteen hundred and sixtyfour and eighteen hundred and sixty-five; and by virtue of general order number ninety, department of Virginia and North Carolina, series of eighteen hundred and sixtyfour, holden by the superintendent of freedmen's affairs, but turned over to the said freedmen's bureau upon its organization; and whereas the said commissioner has in possession the names of those soldiers from whom the said money was taken; and whereas he has uniformly returned the same upon the application or discovery of legal representatives, but retains a considerable portion thereof belonging to soldiers who are either deceased or who cannot be found: Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Commissioner That the said commissioner of the bureau of refugees, gees, &c. consti- freedmen and abandoned lands, or his successor in office, dian of retained be, and he is hereby, constituted the lawful custodian bounty fund, and of said retained bounty fund, and appointed trustee of tee; may invest the same for the benefit of said colored soldiers or their the fund, and for lawful representatives. tuted the custo appointed trus what purpose. Provisos. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioner be, and he is hereby, specially authorized and empowered to invest the said fund, or any portion thereof, in bonds of the United States, for the exclusive benefit of the said colored soldiers or their legal representatives: Provided, however, That a sufficient amount of the same in cash be retained uninvested to meet all lawful claims thereupon that will probably be presented for payment: And provided further, That any portion of the said fund which may remain unexpended when the said bureau shall cease to exist shall be accounted for by said commissioner to the treasury of the United States. Approved, March 2, 1867. [15 Stat. L., p. 83.] CHAP. CXXXV.-AN ACT To continue the Bureau for the Relief July 6, 1868. of Freedmen and Refugees, and for other purposes. lief of freedmen tinued for one continued, if, etc. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act entitled "An act to establish a bureau Bureau for refor the relief of freedmen and refugees," approved and refugees conMarch three, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and the year and reestabact entitled "An act to continue in force and to amend ished where dis'An act to establish a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees,' and for other purposes," passed on the sixteenth of July, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-six, shall continue in force for the term of one year from and after the sixteenth of July, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, excepting so far as the same shall be herein modified. And the Secretary of War is hereby directed to re-establish said bureau where the same has been wholly or in part discontinued: Provided, [That] he shall be satisfied that the personal safety of freedmen shall require it. Bureau to be discontinued etc. in SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to discontinue the opera- any State, when, tions of the bureau in any State whenever such State shall be fully restored in its constitutional relations with the government of the United States, and shall be duly represented in the Congress of the United States, unless, upon advising with the commissioner of the bureau, and upon full consideration of the condition of freedmen's affairs in such State, the Secretary of War shall be of opinion that the further continuance of the bureau shall be necessary: Provided, however, That the educational division of said bureau shall not be affected, or in any ed until, etc. way interfered with, until such State shall have made suitable provision for the education of the children of freedmen within said State. Educational di vision not affect balances, how ap SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That unexpended Unexpended balances in the hands of the commissioner, not required plied. otherwise for the due execution of the law, may be, in the discretion of the commissioner, applied for the education of freedmen and refugees, subject to the provisions of laws applicable thereto. eran Reserve unteers now on etc. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That officers of the officers of Vetveteran reserve corps or of the volunteer service, now on Corps and of volduty in the freedmen's bureau as assistant commissioners, duty, etc., may be agents, medical officers, or in other capacities, who have retained, when, been or may be mustered out of service, may be retained by the commissioner, when the same shall be required for the proper execution of the laws, as officers of the bureau, upon such duty and with the same pay, compensation, and all allowances, from the date of their appointment, as now provided by law for their respective grades and duties at the dates of their muster-out and discharge; etc., of such of ficers. "Authority, and such officers so retained shall have, respectively, the same authority and jurisdiction as now conferred upon "officers of the bureau" by act of Congress passed on the sixteenth of July, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty School buildings, etc., may be sold. six. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner is hereby empowered to sell for cash, or by instalments with ample security, school buildings and other buildings constructed for refugees and freedmen by the bureau, to the associations, corporate bodies, or trustees who now use them for purposes of education or relief of want, under suitable guarantees that the purposes for which such buildings were constructed shall be observed: Proceeds of Provided, That all funds derived therefrom shall be returned to the bureau appropriation and accounted for to the treasury of the United States. sales. Bureau of refufreedmen, gees, and lands; to be dis June 30, 1872. after SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President of the Senate pro tempore. Indorsed by the President: "Received June 24th, 1868." [NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the House of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] [17 St. L., p. 366.] [Extract from an act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, and for other purposes.] * * * Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abanabandoned doned Lands: Provided, That the Bureau of Refugees, continued Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands shall be discontinued from and after June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and that all agents, clerks, and other employees then on duty shall be discharged, except such as may be retained by the Secretary of War for the purposes of this proviso. Approved, June 10, 1872. VOLUNTEERS, CLAIMS CONNECTED WITH COLLECTING, DRILLING, AND ORGANIZING OF. CLAIMS CONNECTED WITH COLLECTING, DRILLING, AND ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS. By the act of August 5, 1861 (12 Stat., 316), the sum of $20,000,000 was appropriated to pay the expenses of collecting, drilling, and organizing volunteers. This was the first appropriation of the kind, and the expenses properly chargeable against it are indicated in General Orders, No. 30, War Department, September 3, 1861. Subsequent |