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496

to the freed-people their lawful rights, the Ass't Com'r has issued a Circular, a Copy of which is herewith enclosed, forbidding the summary dismissal of freed people by their Employers — Contracts containing the clause referred to in your communication Viz "if a freedman leaves his employer before the 24th of Dec 1866 he forfeits wages up to date of leaving" would not be approved by this Office, as it virtually places the whole matter in the hands of the employer subject to his decision — If as above stated, the employee, before the expiration of his contract, leaves the service of the employer of his own free will and choice and without provocation of any nature whatever on the part of the employer, of which the nearest Officer or Agent of the Bureau must be the Judge & not the employer, then is he guilty of violation of contract on his part and in consequence thereof forfeits all claim or interest that he may have had in said contract  But if on the other hand the employer has driven off the Employee or in any manner caused him to leave his employ prior to the expiration of his contract, then is he guilty of violation of contract