Evening star., 1863-04-17
LOCAL NEWS.
AMusEMENTs TONIGHT.

rIand operas in this city at the Washing
ton Theatre, commencing this evening, with
Nerdi's opera, 'sIl Trovatore." Madame Lo-
rni will make her debut in the admirable part
OF ..Iponora." The very best operate talent
of the country Is connectes with this company,
the well known names of Amodio, Cordier,
Bii-noli, Maccaferri, Susini, and others ap-
pearIng on the list
GEuv ER's THEATEE.-Mr. Wilkes Booth to-
night takes IL benefit, and IL axes his last ap-
prarance but one, appearing as ssShylock," IN
the ''Merchant of Venice" and ssPetruchio,"
in the ''Taning of the Shrew." Susan Denim
will personate 'sPoriia'' in the first named
play, and Annette Ince as ssCatherine,' i'll the
latter. Shaksperian n sht trnly.
CONFERENCE.-THE weather of the past few
evenings has been unusually unpleasant but
II could not prevent crowds from visiting
Canterbury Hall. So fine bill is nightly
offered that the patrons of Canterbury always
brave the storm 10 witness it. A good bill to-
night aga!n, and to- morrow afternoon natl
nee for ladies and children.
NARIETIES.-On account of the wet weather.
Harry ] .eslie has not been able to perform mis-
feat of walking the rope to the top OF the Va
rieties building, but he appears nightly inside
the hall in connection with &. ". Parker, Ada
Laurent Helena Smith, Ada Tesman, Nellie
Seymour and the Ethiopian congress.
THE RUSSIAN WAR.-Al the most thrilling
incidents OF the Russian war have been trans
teIred to canvass, and may be seen nightly at
Odd Fellows Hall. The concluding scene-the
final deStruCtiO and contiagration of SebaSto-
polls most successful representation. This
exhibition Is we'll worth seeing. There will be
an exhibition at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
ST. PETERS CHURCH FAIR will be continued
at Odd Fellows Hail. Navy Tark, tor two
nights more-this and to morrow evening. 1t
is 20 be hoped that those who have not con-
tributed their mite will do so at once.
THE EMANCIPA ALTON JUBIL EE LAST NIGHT
The anniversary of the signing of the act for
the emancipation of the slaves of the District Of
Columbia was celebrated last evening by a
demonstration in the Fifteenth street Presby-
teriau Church, (colored.)
This church is well known as the aristocratc
colored church of the District, with cushioned
seats, carreted aisles, gold-lettered pews, mar
BILE topped pulpit stand, handsome chandeliers,
3 fair organ, and a choir OF no little celebrity
Caucasians hurrying away from the damnable
discords of their own church choirs, sometimes
pause at the doors of the Fifteenth street church
10 hear the ricn swell ard fine harnonies of
Grants choir or the delicate grace Of Boston
yoluntaries. 1t is a well dressed congresation
Nowhere have we seen finer bonnets than here
last night. Altogether, the gathering and style
Of celebration was very different from that at
the coDtraband camp New Year night ad-
dressed by rude speakers OF the " John de Bap-
tbs" stripe. With single exception, last night,
where cslered speaker used the scarcely de-
tensible figure of representing slavery as ga
dragon scattering lara throughout the land,'
the speaking, both in matter and manner, was
quite as good, if not better than that which
usually prevails at demonstrations" amongst
white folks
On the platform Were seated John F. Cook,
who presided I. H. T.. Hinton OF New York
artist, Rev. Mr.. Shelton, of Cincinnati, j. t.
Green, OF Detroit, Mich. ]. Willis Menard,
(pOet,) w. L. Matthews, of Baltimore, Rev.
Mr.. Turner, (white,) late chaplain of the ith Pa
cavalry, who is here on business relating 10 re-
cruiting colored soldiers. Among the audience
We noticed Rev r. Hill, DR.. Breed, J. ID
Harris, (colorcd,) of the Hayticn Bureau OF
emigration in uniform.
The appearance OF a colored man i'll the
room wearing the gold leaf epaulettes OF Il
Major, was also the occasion vf fmuch applause
and graduation with the assembly. The indi-
vidual thus istinguished was DIR A. I. Augusta,
who received an assistant Surgeons commits
sion last week from the Secretary OF War. He
native OF Virginia, and graduated at Trini-
~ College, Toronto, Canada.
The demonstration was under the manage
nent of Mrs. kechley, president of the Ladies
Contra band Relief Association, =. J. Datcher
W lillian Slade and others Of note amongst the
colored people of the trict.
About : O'Clock the meeting called to
order by John +. Cook, (son of the well.known
Colored preacher,) who introduced Rev. Mr..
Shelton, (colored,) OF Cincinnati, who offered
up prayer, IN which blessings ware in voked
on the members OF Congress who passed the
decree abollshing slavery. and the President
Tor the meas ures he had taken to lberate the
slaves Of the country.
Mr. Thos H. T.. Hinton, (col.,) of New York.
was the first speaker. On the the 18th of April,
1852 a law was promulgated making liberty
paramount to slavery at the seat of the national
Jurisprudence Of the country. President Lin :
coin made the law secure by his approval,
Iapplause:I and that people which had hereto
fors been kept under the iron heel OF oppres-
sion stood forth clothed in liberty. In this act
the right conquered might [Applause.] Sla-
very, which had been maintained by legion
OF political devils, regardless of the tears and
entreaiies of mother, wife or children, was par
tally done away with. The people now left
the dark picture of the past and beheld gleam
OF liberty. The country was no longer under
an incubus, and with a massive blew the hy.
Cra-headed monster was felled to death. Notice
this dear baby of the country, this political pet
OF the South, this cherubim of the F. F. V e,
and we cannot do better than to look at it as it
has developed itself.
Lex any one even to-day have but a drop of
African blood i'll their veins, and let him or
her pass or approach one OF the slaveocrats,
and the first word you hear from them is,
O Hello niggerr Amy man or woman, if Of
African descent is thus subject continually to
vile Situperation. There is no redress when
thus assaulted, unless you redress yourselves
and take the law In your own hands. And the
law is simply for the white man and not for
the black. Again, if an African seeks accom-
mediation III street railroad car, he is told by
the conductor, 1--WE don't accommodate mig
gers in this car, and this is one of the features
OF slavery as il exists in our midst IT this is
the case o-day, what was it before the issue
OF the Eman clpauon proclamation. Must we
not then do all to conquer this great prejudice
and TO destroy this fiery dragon that is scatter
ing its devastating lava about our land The
Coiored man loved liberty. 1t was the gift of
the great and good God, and it was intended
the path i'll which all should walk. If it
shall appear in the course OF human events
that there was prospect of higher develop
nent Of the colored race, they must endeavor
10 meet the event by making themselves better
Whose hand was it that had struck the death
blow to slavery but that OF Abraham Lincoln
iApplause.l They tthe colored people) re-
iotced with loud voice and hailed with 10y
has advent among them. [Applause.I May
his path be strewn with peace and prosperity,
tapplause,l and may the nation look upon
HIM as the repaIrcr of the land and the restorer
OF the National paths. [Applause.l
j. Willis Menard (colored poet) was next in
troduced. One year ago to-day he said, the
sun of slavery sunk down into its native hell,
taprlanse,J and buried IN Its fall the clash Of
deyLiEh chains, [renewed applause,l and the
Capital OF the Nation ceased to be the great
workshop OF fetters and chains for the negro.
The colored people leaped from the condition
OF hrutes 10 the broad and lasting platform
of humanity. [Applause.l By emancipation
thousands have been thrown upon them (the
rolored people), and they must choose for
tIlem. IheY must plan for them and teach