"
This last compromise was a hasty bit of legislation, vague
and uncertain in outline. A Bureau was created, "to continue
during the present War of Rebellion, and for one year thereaf-
ter," to which was given "the supervision and management
of all abandoned lands and the control of all subjects relating
to refugees and freedmen," under "such rules and regu-
lations as may be presented by the head of the Bureau and
approved by the President." A Commissioner, appointed by
the President and Senate, was to control the Bureau, with an
office force not exceeding ten clerks. The President might
also appoint assistant commissioners in the seceded States,
and to all these offices military officials might be detailed at
regular pay. The Secretary of War could issue rations, cloth-
ing, and fuel to the destitute, and all abandoned property was
placed in the hands of the Bureau for eventual lease and sale
to ex-slaves in forty-acre parcels.
Thus did the United States government definitely assume
charge of the emancipated Negro as the ward of the nation. It
was a tremendous undertaking. Here at a stroke of the pen
was erected a government of millions of men,--and not
ordinary men either, but black men emasculated by a pecu-
liarly complete system of slavery, centuries old; and now,
suddenly, violently, they come into a new birthright, at a
time of war and passion, in the midst of the stricken and
embittered population of their former masters.
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