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the worth of different kinds of labor in their District, and when they have any doubts about the justice of approving a contract, it should be forwarded to this Office for action.

After the execution of the contract, both parties will be required to live up to its provisions, unless some good cause for its violation arises, which must be reported to the Sub-Commissioner and his written permission obtained.

When Freedmen have legitimately acquired furniture, cooking utensils, or personal property of any kind, they will be secured in the possession of the same, although living on the plantation of their former masters.

V. That officers of Sub District as soon as possible make an enrollment of the Freedmen under their charge, giving name, age, residence, and occupation, and constantly keep such registers of the people, noting all the changes that may occur from time to time.

Expenses connected with the care and employment of Freedmen and Refugees will be reduced as low as possible. No purchases will be made, or money paid out by an officer of the Bureau, without authority from this office.
By order of
Sam'l Thomas
Asst. Commissioner.
Stuart Eldridge
Lieut. A A A Gen'l.

Office Ass't Com'r Freedmen's Bureau.
Vicksburg Miss. August 3d 1865.
General Orders. }
No. 6.          }
The following named Officers are announced as on duty at these Head Quarters.

Capt. John Toms, 64th USCI. Acting Ass't Quartermaster: as Chief Quartermaster, Freedmens Bureau, State of Miss.
Lieut. Chas [Charles] Weismann. 64th USCI. Acting Commissary of Subsistence, as Chief Commissary of Subsistence, Freedmen's Bureau State of Mississippi.

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By order of
Sam'l Thomas
Stuart Eldridge
Lieut Act. Ass't Adj't Gen'l.

Marriage of Freedmen by Civil Authority.
Authority to marry granted.

Office Asst Commissioner Freedmens Bureau Mis.
Vicksburg Miss. Sept 2nd 1865.
General Orders. }
No. 7.          }

The following letter has been received at this office from the Clerk of the Probate Court of Pike County, Miss.

Holmesville, Pike County, Miss. Aug 28th 1865.

Col. Sam'l Thomas,

Assistant Commissioner:
Sir, I see by Article III of Circular No 7, of date July 29th, 1865, from Bureau Refugees, Freedmen &c. that Freedmen are advised to marry legally. As I have been appointed by his Excellency, Governor Sharkey, to the office of Clerk of the Probate Court for this Couty, and as it is the duty of said Clerk to keep a record of marriages and to issue marriage licenses, I should like to keep a record of the marriage of Freedmen and to issue marriage licenses to them. By Article III of same Circular, "contracts made with Freedmen should be witnessed by the officer of the Bureau." There are many Freedmen who are making verbal contracts in this County, choosing rather to run the risk of loss by verbal contracts than to undergo the expense and fatigue of foot-travel to the nearest location of a Bureau officer. As it is also my duty as Clerk to take acknowledgements, &c, I desire the privilege of writing and witnessing contracts between Freedmen and their employers.

If you will favor me with the appointment, I will pledge myself to conform strictly to your instructions; and if you think it necessary to demand it, I can give you bond in the penalty of any reasonable sum conditioned to the faithful discharge of my duties in the premises. I am induced to make this application from the request of many of the citizens of this County as well as that of the  

Transcription Notes:
changed Capt. John "Tams" to "Toms" skipped lines between paragraphs to increase ease of readability