Evening star., 1863-04-17

Almi ghty God we praise thy name,
For having heard us pray:
For having freed us from our chalnS,
One year ago TO day.
We thank thee, for thy arm has stayed
Foul despotsm' sway,
And made Columbia's District free,
One year ago to-day.
Give us the power to withstand
Opprpss ions baneful fray;
That cht may triumph as il did.
One year ago to-day.
Give liberty to millions yet
Meath dPspotlsm'S sway,
That they may praise thee as tcs did,
One year ago to-day.
o. guide us safely through this storm;
Bless LiEcOln's gentle sway,
And then We'll ever praise thee, az
One year ago to-day.
The recital of this poem elcied great ap-
plause.l
The next speaker introduced was ]. +.
Green, (colored,) OF Michigan, who said that
the American Revolution was an important
epoch in the worlds history; not only having
its effect on the whites, but upon the blacks.
He alluded TO the blacks helping to fight for
our liberties, and ipstanced W. T.. Will, a black
of Boston, who shed the first blood Crispus
AttuX, another black MAN, fell at the head OF a
band OF citizens in the Boston massacre. Col
ored blood was split at Bunker Hill, and the
bones OF the blacks repOse there with the
whites. In Rhode Island a regiment of blacks
was raised, and in Connecticut large battalion
owing to the preludices Of the whites their
deeds have been covered up.
He alluded to q speech made by Charles
Pinckney, of South Carolina, in which he ad-
mittPd that during the war OF the revolution
colored men fought bravely with the whites
The victory at New Orleans was won by blacks
as we'll as whites, who were highly compli-
mented by General Jackson. He cOntended
that patriotism was more deeply rooted In the
blacks than in the whites They pour out their
blood for those who do not regard them as
fellow men.
He then referred to the progress made In lib.
Grating slaves in different portions of the earth
The English slaves liberated by their Irish
masters did not rebel against their deliyerers.
In Chilli every child born after the 10th October
1911, was declared free. In Columbia every
slave bearing arms was emancipated July 10
1921, and provisions were made tor the eman-
CipatiOn of the remainder, amounting to :,Su, tG0
In Mexico, September Is, 1S29, instant and
unconditional freedom was given every slave.
At the Cape of Good Hope, $4,000 Hottentots
We're freed in 1Sl5. In all these places without
any unhappy results. The slaves in the British
West Indies, amounting to 100000, were libe-
rated: ard in isis slavery throughout the British
doriinions was abolished, by which 100000
i'll the East Indies were liberated.
On the 1st OF January, 1863, the Presidents
proclamation declared free i35, l52 in Alabama,
1u,1W in Arkansas, 6l,753 in Florida, i62, 232 in
Georgia, 426,69G in Mississippi, i02,5t1 in South
Carolina, 1eO,6s2 in Texas, which amounts to
2,lan,l40; and in louisiana, excepting New
Orleans, 3ls, ,53l; in North Carolina, excepting
Beaufort, 33l,CSI; Tennessee, excepting loyal
portions, 215,1-5; Virginia, excepting West Eir-
ginia, i40,e97 making 4 total of 3 i56,42i who
were declared free by the proclamation.
Russia had emancipated 7,UOO,UUo slaves, and
in our country extending from one ocean to
another, with 3,oO0,oOO square miles, heretofore
there was not place in which atugltive could
be safe.
William E. Mathews, (coIored,} was then
introduced He said it was custom old as
antiquity for men 10 come together to celebrate
great events. The Jews celebrated the Pass
over; n2land the birthday of her Queen. All
the great powers OF the earth, including Uayti
and Liberia, applause have a day peculiarly
their own. The white Americans celebrate the
Fourth of July. But it is an unhappy fact that
the colored people of the United States had no
day to celebrate. Thank God, another and q
better day has at last dawned, (applause,) and
this eve ming the colored people met under cir
cumstances never before known. Wilson and
LoYeloy applause, would be handed down to
posterity with blessings. TApplause.l
The speaker hoped the 10th day Of April
would ever be a day of rejoicing in this Dis
trict. TApplause.l Let the rejoicing swell the
tide until all in tho United States meet in one
grand celebration; (applause,) and when the
colored man shall stand on one grand platform
OF universal right. [Applause.l He liked these
anniversaries. They inspired them with a
manhood they did not feel on other occasions.
(Applause.l
The colored people should celebrate the BIRTH
days OF their great men-the birthday OF Han
nibal, who crossed the Alps and compelled the
Romans to cringe at his feet, [applause;] OF
Toussant lOuverture, Iapplause, who worked
successfully the greater than mathematical
problem that they who would he free must first
strike the blow. TApplause.I He lOuver-
ture) had turned Hayti from a hell of slavery
to paradise of freedom, fapplause;] and Amer
lea had been forced to recognize her national
ity, and to- day we have Il black man [applausel
representing her here. He would like also to
see celebrated the birthday of Benz. Bannecker,
the negro astronomer, who first gave an alma
nae to Maryland, Virginia and the District.
[Applause.l Who were the early fathers of
religion Who put the light to the torch of
christianity, which has continued to burn
brightly, but st. Cyprian, Augustine and others
of their racel He would like to see their men,
cries celebrated. [Applause.l He could name
days, but SO long as history does its duty the
names of these men will never be forgotten.
Let US, then, believe that this is the beginning
of a better time for the race. In conclusion,
this speaker also recited poem OF his own COM
position appropriate to the occasion.
Other speakers followed, Francis Taverns
(colored), DR.. Breed, Judge Day, and others,
but for whose remarks we have not space to-
day.
The affair concluded with some musical ex-
ercises in the basement of the church. "Viye
Ia America" and several pieces, including the
"Johp Browns Song" were sung during the
evening by Misses Margaret Brown, M. Cook
ley, L. Starr, and +, Fisher, and Mcssrs. T. :.
Boston and W. Z. Landie, with much effect.
TRIAL OF MARY CYRUS FOR THE MURDER
OF HER 1NPANT.-She as Found Not Guilty.-Af.
ter our report closed yesterday, District Attor-
ney Darlington opened in the above case, con-
tending that the offence with which the pris-
oncr was charged was much greater than ordi-
nary murder. He expected to prove that the
prisoner III January last was enciente, and was
delivered of a child, which was afterwards
found in privy, wrapped in mantle belong
ing to her. That an officer, on pinning her as
to her guilt, confessed it TO him by Offering to
pay him if he let her off.
Mr.. Wharton briefly stated the case for the
defence. He did not think that the District At
torney would be able 10 prove all that was
stated.
The first witness called was dlice Cyrus,
sister OF the prisoner, who testified that she
lived in the house with her lasr January, and
that during the month she went to her bed
stating that she had d violent cold. She (the
prisoner) was III bed three weeks. Witness
the baby il the priYy when the officer was
there. Witness did not know that her sister
was in the family way when she went TO her
bed.
LRc1nder Fonn,lerog sworn-Witness lived
in the house with prisoner, who was in 4 deli
cate state of health. The prisoner was taken
sick on January 7th-near the tine of delivery