Freedmen’s Bureau Act Part II — (March 3, 1865)

I. Freedmen’s Bureau Act — March 3, 1865

An Act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees
(Text follows the statute as enacted by Congress

SECTION 1 — Creation of the Bureau

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That there is hereby established in the War Department, to continue during the present war of rebellion,
…and for one year thereafter, a bureau of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned lands, to which shall be committed,
…as hereinafter provided, the supervision and management of all abandoned lands, and the control of all subjects
…relating to refugees and freedmen from rebel states, or from any district of country within the territory
…embraced in the operations of the army, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the
…head of the bureau and approved by the President.

The said bureau shall be under the management and control of a commissioner to be appointed by the President
…by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, whose compensation shall be three thousand dollars per annum,
…and such number of clerks as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of War, not exceeding one chief clerk,
…two of the fourth class, two of the third class, and five of the first class.

And the commissioner and all persons appointed under this Act shall, before entering upon their duties,
…take the oath of office prescribed … And the commissioner and the chief clerk shall, before entering upon their duties,
…give bonds … conditioned for the faithful discharge of their duties respectively … which bonds shall be filed
… to be by him put in suit for the benefit of any injured party upon any breach of the conditions thereof.

SECTION 2 — Relief Supplies Authority

And be it further enacted,
That the Secretary of War may direct such issues of provisions, clothing, and fuel, as he may deem
needful for the immediate and temporary shelter and supply of destitute and suffering refugees and freedmen
and their wives and children, under such rules and regulations as he may direct.

SECTION 3 — Assistant Commissioners and Reporting

And be it further enacted,
That the President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint an assistant commissioner
for each of the states declared to be in insurrection, not exceeding ten in number, who shall,
under the direction of the commissioner, aid in the execution of the provisions of this Act;
and he shall give a bond … in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, in the form and manner prescribed in the first section of this act.

Each of said commissioners shall receive an annual salary of two thousand five hundred dollars
… And any military officer may be detailed and assigned to duty under this act without increase of pay or allowances.

The commissioner shall, before the commencement of each regular session of Congress, make a full report of his proceedings
… and … special reports whenever required to do so …; and the assistant commissioners shall make quarterly reports
… and also such other special reports as … may be required.

SECTION 4 — Land Assignment Authority

And be it further enacted,
That the commissioner, under the direction of the President, shall have authority to set apart,
for the use of loyal refugees and freedmen, such tracts of land within the insurrectionary states
as shall have been abandoned, or to which the United States shall have acquired title
… and to every male citizen, whether refugee or freedman, as aforesaid,

There shall be assigned not more than forty acres of such land, and the person to whom it was so assigned
shall be protected in the use and enjoyment of the land for the term of three years at an annual rent
not exceeding six per centum upon the value of such land … and in case no such appraisal can be found, then the renta
… to be ascertained … by the commissioner.

At the end of said term, or at any time during said term, the occupants of any parcels so assigned may purchase the land
… upon paying … the value of the land … as ascertained … for the purpose of determining the annual rent aforesaid.

SECTION 5 — Repeal of Inconsistent Laws

And be it further enacted,
That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

APPROVED, March 3, 1865.

II. Freedmen’s Bureau Amendment/Continuation Act — July 16, 1866

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

This 1866 statute extends the original Bureau law and modifies its scope. The full numbered sections are as follows:

SECTION 1 — Continuation of the Bureau

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the act to establish a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees, approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-five,
shall continue in force for the term of two years from and after the passage of this act.

SECTION 2 — Supervision and Purpose Clarified

And be it further enacted,
That the supervision and care of said bureau shall extend to all loyal refugees and freedmen,
so far as the same shall be necessary to enable them as speedily as practicable to become self-supporting citizens
of the United States, and to aid them in making the freedom conferred by proclamation
…by emancipation under the laws … and by constitutional amendment, available to them and beneficial to the republic.

SECTION 3 — Additional Assistant Commissioners

And be it further enacted,
That the President shall, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint two assistant commissioners,
…in addition to those authorized by the act to which this is an amendment, who shall give like bonds and receive
… the same annual salaries, and each of the assistant commissioners shall have charge of one district
…containing such refugees or freedmen … with the approval of the President.

SECTION 4 (Implicit) — Oaths and Repealers

And be it further enacted,
That all officers, agents, and employees of this bureau, before entering upon 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.

Notes & Context

• The 1865 Act created the Freedmen’s Bureau, defined its powers (relief, supplies, land allocation, reporting),
  and set its initial one-year life span.

The 1866 Act extended the Bureau for two more years and broadened its supervision, purpose, and staffing.