All persons engaged as laborers in agricultural pursuits shall be required, within the first ten days of the month of January of each year, to make contracts for labor for the then ensuing year.

All labor contracts shall be made with the heads of families; they shall embrace the labor of all the members of the family able to work, and shall be binding on all minors of said families.

When in health the laborer shall work ten hours during the day in summer and nine hours during the day in winter. He shall obey all proper orders of his employer or his agent; take proper care of his work mules, horses, oxen, stock; also all agricultural implements; and employers shall have the right to make a reasonable deduction from the laborer’s wages for injuries done to animals or agricultural implements committed to his care, or for bad or negligent work.  

Failing to obey reasonable order, neglect of duty, and leaving home without permission will be deemed disobedience; impudence, swearing, or indecent language to, or in the presence of, the employer, his family, or agent, or quarreling and fighting with one another shall be deemed disobedience.  

It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to carry fire-arms on the premises or plantations of any citizens without the consent of the owner or proprietor.

Any one who shall persuade or entice away, feed, harbor, or secret any person who leaves his or her employer, with whom she or he has contracted or is assigned to live, or any apprentice who is bound as an apprentice, without the permission of his or her employer, said person or persons so offending shall be liable for damages to the employer.

Source: “Laws in Relation to Freedmen,” 39 Cong., 2 Sess., Senate Exec. Doc. 6, Freedman’s Affairs, 181-87.