Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Head Quarters Assistant Commissioner, State of Virginia.

RICHMOND, VA., May 1st, 1867.

CIRCULAR NO. 9. 

Officers and Agents of this Bureau will take care that the Freedmen, within their respective jurisdictions, are made acquainted with their rights under the Act of Congress “to provide for the more efficient government of the Rebel States,” and the Act supplementary thereto, passed respectively, March 2nd and March 23rd, 1867.

Such measures will be taken as will inform all Freedmen entitled to be registered, of the necessity for, and the time and place of registration, and of the time and place of voting. They will also be instructed that, as they will not be allowed to suffer from the honest exercise of the right of suffrage, they should disregard all threats or undue influence tending to prevent or restrain the same.

Prompt report will be made to the President of the local Board of Registration of any case in which the rights of a Freedman, under the above-mentioned Acts, are withheld or interfered with. 

By order of Brevet Brigadier General O. BROWN,
Assistant Commissioner.
GARRICK MALLERY.
Captain 43rd Infantry, A.A.A.G.