The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-11-11
New Publications,

II Is hard to keep pace with the events OF this
war harder still TO pause in the midst OF the
glowing present and survey the whole field OF
our triumphs to mark the relations Of each
movement to the grand campaign to sec where
we have gained and where lost (; to sift out OF
the vast mass of facts that crowd upon our at
tention those that tell on the future. He rem.
ders q substantial service who can command
our attention long enough TO lead US back over
the fields We have traversed 80 swiftly.
Such service Mr.. Wilson has rendered US In
the volume under consideration. II Is, as II
purports to DO, brief fair and impartial histo-
~ of Anti-Slavery legislation for the last three
years. II is IN entirely unpretending, business.
like summary of those measures which the
friends Of liberty have devised for the relief Of
the oppressed and the prosecution OF the war.
Mr.. Wilson Is emnently qualified and entitled
to make this contribution to the history OF the
war, as being himself the author OF very many
of these bills, acts and resolutions. II might
almost be called his own record and noble
one 1t Is The first of the long series Of anti.
slavery acts was initiated July 22i. 1851, the
day after the Bull Run battle 1t was bill to
confscate property, including slaves, employed
against the Union arms. The controversy was
bitter, aud we smile ut the moderate tone Of the
friends OF the bill and the long. forgotten argu'
ments of the Peace party. The measure was
declared useless aud Irritating; unconstitution.
nj, and "the first of q series Of acts loOsing nj
bonds" But the bill passed and was approved
by the President, Aug. 9th, 1861.
The next act was one to punish by dismissior
any officer who should arrest or return fugitive
slaves. The usage had been various up To this
time. Gen. Mcclellan carried on an extensiv,
business in restoring the mis- guided negroes who
sought protection under our flag. This bill va!
approved March -, 1862.
Again bill passed, July n, 1862, freeing al
slaves taking refuge in our lines, whose masters
were engaged in the rebellion ; all slaves cap
tured or de- erted all slaves in towns occupiet
by Union forces, formerly IN possession Of thu
rebels.
On the 10Th Of June. 1862. slavery was pro
hibited in the Territories now owned or hercaf
ter To te acquired by the United States, in nj
public domains, dock yards, &c. SO. Subse
quently in the same month, all Fugitive Slave
Acts, including those of 1890 and 1850. were re-
pealed.
April 10th, 1862, q joint resolution passed
ON the recommendation Of the President, giving
pecuniary MD to States in abolishing slavery.
On motion Of Mr.. Sumner, bill passed rec
ognizing IIayti and Liberia "a long. delayed
piece of justice.
A series Of acts was passed in the District o
Columbia which in some measure has wiped out
the disgrace Of slave-markets under the dome
of the Capitol The FIRST was an act Of Eman.
cpation By which over 5000 souls were added
to the ranks Of freedom, AMI all Oppressive
black codes were abrogatci april Is, 1852
Subsequently, (July l2th) M additional ac
was passed releasing certain slaves still held IL
bondage, whose masters, by absence in thu
ranks OF the enemy or elsewhere, had left then
unacconnted for.
Next was passed bill. or rather series o
bills, for the education OF colored youth in thu
District of Columbia BY these just and benet
icent acts over 1000 children were brought nm
der the influences Of n wisely planned schOo
system. "a High School, with n corps of New
England teachers will soon be in operation
Il was found that Washington Jail was filled
with cvlorel prisoners. arrested on most tlimsy
evidence. and subjected to Bastile treatment
Early in 1862 NIL such persons were liberated.
July ID. 1862. d bill, introduced by MIR. Sum
ner. was approved, aiding to the Civil Appro
priation Bill the amendment that in the Courts
of the United States there shall be no exclusion
of testimony on account Of color.
Most unjust practices had prevailed by which
in the cars of the District, cOlored persons In
been excluded. This matter was also rctife J.
BY the Enrolment Act whites alone were i
rolled in the militia. The 37th Congress ena Il.
ed that negroes should be enrolled and subj C,
To draft rs the white citizens were. Again, in
view of the deep injustice of refusing colored
soldiers the same pay as their white companions
in arms, IL was enacted by the 3Sth Congress:
that colored soldiers should receive the same
pay, rations. &c., as white soldiers that u ost
who enlisted under the call of October IL, 1881,
should have the same bounty that NIL ne. roe:
who enter the Union army should he forever
free that those who were free April 10, 1851
should have the same pay rs the white soldiers
and, IL in the opinion Of the Attorney General
the act was legal. those who were not free nj
that date. should receive the same pay. rations,
&c., The Attorney General has given On If
frmativc decision, and now and henceforih col
ored soldiers are 10 be upon the same footing as
white soldiers The noble fighting qualities oil
these new allies prove the wisdom Of this act.
The slave trade. on the high seas aud along
the coast, had been extensively carried on un.
der the American flag. The 37th Congress en-
acted measures, in conjunction with Great Bri.
tain. To make this traffic more hazardous across
the ocean and the 3sth Congress abolished the
law permitting coast-wise slave trade.
Several acts are now pending. One is n
proposition ON the part Of Congress to the sew
eral States to abolish slavery by an amendment
to the Constitution. There Is pending In the
House, Mr.. Elliots bill to establish Freed
mems Bureau. There Is also pending an act to
set free the wives aud children Of enlisted col.
ored soldiers,
Nor are these acts, great rs they are in them
selves, In their results, the only anti.slavery
measures. Several States have taken the matter
into their own hands, and gradually the end is
approaching. West Virginia and Missouri have
undertaken gradual emancipation. Maryland
has adopted free constitution. Delaware Is
preparing to do the same. Arkansas and Lou
isiana have, by the efortsof their loyal citizens,
framed AMI adopted free constitutions, and II is
n singular Providence that removes Chief JUS
tice fancy, who declared that the negro has no
rights we ave bound to respect, just ~ the At
torney General pronounces the negro to he n
citizen of the United States. More than three
millions Of slaves now in rebel States are de-
clared free by the President.
These are our triumphs in the halls Of lcgis-
lation. Thus Freedom & cs hand In hand with
An illustrated Monthly Magazine, for boys
aud girls, is the title of q new magazine shortly
to be commenced by Msssrs Ticknor & Fields,
and to be edited by J. 7. Trowhridgc, Gail
Hamilton anu Lucy Larcom. assisted by an
able corps Of contributors, among whom are
announced Captain Mayne Reid. Mr.. and Mrs.
Agassiz, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, "Carle.
tom" DIR. bio Lewis, Edmund Morris, Edmund
Kirke. "Aunt Fanny" Mr.. Longfellow, Mr.
Whittier, Prof. Holmes, Mrs. L. NJ. Child, and
many others. II will be richly illustrated and
will contain stories, sketches, biography, histo.
ry, poetry, travel and adventure, sports. games.
puzzles &c II will DO little more than two.
thirds as large as the Atlantic Monthly, and
will be furnished at the low price Of 80 year,
three copies for IS, Eve copies for So, ten cop
les fos SIS. Specimen copies OF first number
sent to any address, - soon As published for
ten cents each. .b-. =
Address the Publisher Ticknor & Pielcs, 1876
Washington street Boston. ,.-- ,fsi =.
The November number Of the Atlantic II re.
ceived and presents the usual display OF talent
~ n ., 4,