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[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

WAR DEPARTMENT,
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
Washington, May 21, 1866.

CIRCULAR,}
No. 4.

In order to answer numerous inquiries from officers, agents and others, and if possible prevent misunderstandings with regard to the change of organization in this Bureau, this Circular is issued.

I. The Commissioner recommended, some time since, that the functions of Military Commander of a State and Assistant Commissioner be exercised by the same officer. Wherever practicable, this being affected-- as in Virginia and Mississippi. It is not done in condemnation of the Assistant Commissioners who have labored hard and successfully, but to secure more prompt and effective administration than can otherwise be done.

II. The Commissioner calls the attention of all officers, officially, to the reports in circulation as to acts of severity and cruelty toward the 
freedmen on their own part, as to carelessness in rendering their monthly accounts, and other offences. Every officer, or agent, already accused, shall have the opportunity of a thorough vindication before a court martial. But the occasions for such trials are to be deprecated and they must be forestalled by a a thorough system of inspection, and a prompt removal of every unfaithful officer.

III. Special attention is again called to the difficult duty of caring for the indigent. Where intense anxiety prevails to get rid of the Bureau, surely state and county officers will make some arrangement to relieve the General Government of this heavy expense. If the county officers, or Overseers of the Poor, will adopt the proper measures, the industrial and government farms which are now so much complained of, can be dispensed with.

In order to meet an emergency, when the whole system of labor was deranged, the Commissioner urged the forming of joint companies, the encouragement of the imigration of those accustomed to free labor, so as to afford promptly, as many examples as possible, of the successful employment of negroes under a free system. Apparently in keeping with these regulations a few officers have invested their own means, jointly with citizens, in the planting interest. I know of no law, or regulation of the Army, or of this Bureau, against this, yet it will almost inevitably lead to corruption, as it has already to bitter accusation.--Hereafter such investments, within their own jurisdiction, by officers on duty in this Bureau, are strictly prohibited.

O.O. HOWARD,
Major General, Commissioner.

OFFICIAL:
O.D. Kinsman
Assistant Adjutant General.