Resolution of January 31, 1868 (15 Stats., 246). JOINT RESOLUTION for the relief of destitute persons in the South. That the Secretary of War be hereby authorized to issue, for the relief of any and all classes of destitutes in the South, such desiccated potatoes and desiccated mixed vegetables as have accumulated during the war and are not needed for use in the Army; the same to be issued under the direction of the commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. March 10, 1868 (15-41).—Commissioner of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands charged with expenditure of the $15,000 appropriated for the relief of the destitute in the District of Columbia. Act of July 6, 1868 (15 Stats., 83). AN ACT to continue the Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees, and for other purposes. That the act entitled "An act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees," approved March three, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and the act 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," 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 reestablish 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. SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to discontinue the operations 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 way interfered with, until such State shall have made suitable provision for the education of the children of freedmen within said State. SEC. 3. That unexpended balances in the hands of the commissioner not required 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. SEC. 4. That officers of the Veteran Reserve Corps, or of the volunteer service, now on duty in the Freedmen's Bureau as assistant commissioners, agents, medical officers, or in other capacities, who have 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; 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-six. SEC. 5. That the commissioner is hereby empowered to sell for cash, or by installments 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: Provided, That all funds derived therefrom shall be returned to the bureau appropriation and accounted for to the Treasury of the United States. Act of July 25, 1868 (15 Stats., 193). AN ACT relating to the Freedmen's Bureau, and providing for its discontinuance. That the duties and powers of Commissioner of the Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees shall continue to be discharged by the present commissioner of the bureau, and in case of vacancy in said office occurring by reason of his death or resignation, the same shall be filled by appointment of the President on the nomination of the Secretary of War, and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and no officer of the Army shall be detailed for service as commissioner or shall enter upon the duties of commissioner unless appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and all assistant commissioners, agents, clerks, and assistants shall be appointed by the Secretary of War, on the nomination of the commissioner of the bureau. In case of vacancy in the office of commissioner happening during the recess of the Senate, the duties of commissioner shall be discharged by the acting assistant adjutant-general of the bureau until such vacancy can be filled. SEC. 2. That the commissioner of the bureau shall, on the first day of January next, cause the said bureau to be withdrawn from the several States within which said bureau has acted, and its operations shall be discontinued. But the educational department of the said bureau, and the collection and payment of moneys due the soldiers, sailors, and marines, or their heirs, shall be continued as now provided by law until otherwise ordered by act of Congress. Act of April 7, 1869 (16 Stats., 8). AN ACT relating to freedmen's hospitals. That the commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees and Freedmen is authorized and directed to continue the freedmen's hospitals at Richmond, Virginia; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and in the District of Columbia, including the asylum for aged and infirm freedmen and for orphan children: Provided, That the expense thereof shall be paid by the commissioner out of moneys heretofore appropriated for the use of the bureau: And provided further, That said hospitals shall be discontinued as soon as may be practicable in the discretion of the President of the United States. Act of June 10, 1872 (17 Stats., 347).1 AN ACT making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and for other purposes. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Pro vided, That the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands shall be discontinued from and after June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. December 15, 1877 (20-7).-In the event of the work of collecting and paying bounty and other claims of colored soldiers and sailors not being finished before January 1, 1879, the bureau to be closed and all papers connected therewith to be turned over to the Paymaster-General. "The unfinished business of the bureau was turned over to the Adjutant-General July 1, 1872. The bureau of colored troops, in his office, was finally closed June 30, 1879. |