BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN & ABANDONED LANDS,
Office Ass’t Commissioner, State of Georgia,
AUGUSTA, GA., July 17th, 1866.

CIRCULAR
No. 8.

1. Numerous well authenticated reports from officers and Agents of the Bureau in different parts of the State have been received at this office, setting forth that now the crops are nearly ready to lay by, and the immediate demand for labor has, to some extent ceased, planters in some instances, are driving off freed-people employed by them and refusing to pay for their labor. Sometimes this is done openly, but generally by purposely quarreling with the freed-people—threatening them with violence if they remain, and then because of their leaving the plantation, claiming that they have violated their contracts and forfeited their wages. If this unjust and dishonest conduct is persisted in, the State will be filled with unemployed freed-people, without means of subsistence, who must live by theft or be supported by the Government. Therefore persons employing freed-people are forbidden to discharge them without payment, unless they shall first show sufficient cause, and obtain the consent of an officer or Agent of this Bureau.

2. Military commanders in this State will assist the officers and Agents of the Bureau to enforce the provisions of this Circular.

DAVIS TILLSON,
Bt. Maj. Gen’l Vols. Com’dg
and Asst. Commissioner.

Approved:
O.O. HOWARD,
Major Gen’l, Commissioner, &c.