The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09
Hsw was EmancIpssien brought abens In
rhe Free Ssntesf

Hsw was EmancIpaiien brought abeut In
the Free Safest
Some Emancipationists in Monroe county
have written to gentleman in Louisville to
learn in what manner emancipation was effect
cd In the States which once had slavery but are
now free. As the subject Is one Of interest not
only to the friends In Monroe, but to Emanci-
patiOnists gens,lnv through the State, we take
the liberty Of answering the letter, though not
addressed to us personally, through the columns
Of the Examiner.
As far ss we know, emancipation Was the re-
suit of legislative enactment in all the States in
which il han been effected, with one exception.
In Massachusetts, slavery was done away with
very early and very summariy. The Constitu-
ton of that State was framed in 1850. The
bill Of rights, accompanying the constitution,
was based essentially upon the principles of the
Declaration Of Independence; in fact, the very
language Of the Declaration was, In some in
stances, employed. Among other expressions
thus adopted, was the clause that call men are
born free and equal" Three years after the
formation of the Constitution, suit was brought
before the Supreme Court Of the State, for the
freedom Of coIored man, and the plea was
based upon this unlimited expression in the
bill Of rights. The Court sustained the plea
and decided that when that bill of rights was
adopted by the people Of Massachusetts,, slave
ny had instantly and entirely ceased. Thus
quietly and effectively was "the institution"
disposed Of in one Of "the old thirtsen."
In every other State, as we remarked above,
we believe that emancipation was the result OF
legislative action.
In New York an act was passed by the legis-
ature in 1876, which provided for the freedom
of all children born Of slave parents after the
4th of July, 1899.
In New Jersey the first legislative act. in be-
half Of emancipation, was passed Feb. Is, 1904.
Under the influence Of that act the number Of
slaves, in sixteen years, was reduced from
IL .423 to !, 557. Feb. "a, 1920, another act was
passed, embracing and extending the principles
of the act Of 1904, hich provided "that every
child born of a slave since July 4, 1904, or which
shall hereafter be born, shall be free, but shall
remain the servant Of the owner Of the mother,
as II il had been bound to service by the over
seers Of the poor, the male until IS, the female
until 81" The owner was obliged, under heavy
penalties, 70 give to the clerk Of the county a
certificate Of the age and sex Of every such
child, and Of the age Of the mother, that II
might be recorded.
awe have not the acts OF other States in refer
ence to emancipation at hand, but, as soon as
we can obtain them, we will publish them. Suf-
fcient, however, has been said TO show that in
the early days of the republic, when the spirit
Of liberty was alive, and when constitutional
principles ought certainly to have been well I'M
derstood, no doubt was felt in regard to the right
Of people TO provide for the emancipation Of
its slaves. II has been reserved 10 the men Of
the present age, which is characterized as pro-
gressiye age, but which, in some respects, seems
to enjoy the craw-fsh mode Of progression, to
discover that the citizens Of a sovereign State
have no power over a subject Of vital impor-
lance to every citizen.
Il is an interesting and significant fact, that
the operation Of the acts Of emancipation, in
the States to which we have alluded, commence
ed On the 4th Of Jolly. The patriotic Of >arly
days felt that there was a propriety in begin
ming great work Of freedom on the day con-
secrated TO Freedom.