The Portland daily press., 1864-01-02
EMANCIPATION
JU BILEE!
The Star in the East!
Celebration Of the First Anniversary Of
Emancipation.

Celebration Of the First Anniversary of
Emancipation.
! Yesterday, Jan. LIST, 1854, being the first an
nfversary of that great epoch in our nations
life, the legal emancipation of three-and-a-
half millions Of slaves, and their recognition
by the Federal Government as Men, Women
and Children instead of mere merchandise and
chattles, it was deemed worthy OF appropriate
honors, and these were given In spirit, with
. dignity and with grateful and jubilant So
lemnity worthy of SO important an event.
Unfortunately for those who wished to par
ticipate in or witness the exercises at the
Hail, the day opened with drenching rain,
which, in connection with the state OF the
walks.-the result of the newly-fallen snow
now completely saturated with water,-ren-
dered 1t no small undertaking for people, es-
pecialiy for ladies'. to venture out on foot, not
withstanding which that large Hall was allied
to its utmost capacity, many being Obliged to
remain standing during the entire exercises.
Ii the weather had been propltious large
number would have sought admittance in
vain. One remarkable fact could not have
failed to be noticed-that for the two hours
scarcely man manifested any disposition to
leave the Hall.
The morning was ushered In by the pealing
notes of the church bells, which rung out their
merry chimes for half an hour They were
like wise rungf for half an hour at sunset. From
IL i-2 o'clock A. NJ. till IL NJ, the bells
also rung, accompanied by national salute OF
thirty five guns, one for each Of the States oil
the Union. At the close Of the salute the
procession formed In the Senate Chamber
moved into the Hall, in accordance with the
published programme, and the officers and
distinguished gentlemen occupied seats upon
the platform. A letter was received the eve-
Ming previous by the Committee Of Arrange
ments, from Gov. CoBURS, who, with his
STAFF and the Executive Council was expected
to be present, expressing his warm sympathy
with the occasion and GREETING that his official
duties rendered II quite impossible for him to
attend.
The hall was densely packed every seat be-
ing filed, and large number Of gentlemen
being obliged to occupy standing positions,
which they maintained during all the exercis-
es of the celebration.
THE CITY HALL
The decorating ofthe hall was entrusted to
Nr. Schumacher, and II was done in a tasteful
and handsome style. Festoons of buntin ran
sll round the walls and flags wore displayed
ia the windows and la various places in the
hall. On the Myrtle street side Of the hall
over the platform was handsome shield on
which was an eagle holding in his beak scroll
with this Inscription:
LIBERTY AND UNION, ONE AND INSOFAR
ABLE
Underneath was the following:
I" PaocLAIM LIBERTY THRouGHoUr ALL
THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS
THEREoF.r
immediately behind the eagle appeared the
image OF the rising Sun OF Liberty, embIemat-
tc Of the occasion. This shield as well as the
other decorations, were got up in Mr.. Schu-
macher's best style.
On the opposite end Of the hall, over the
proscenium gallery was painting represen-
ting the Goddess Of Liberty leaning upon the
portrait OF Washington.
On the side Of the hall opposite the entrance
was another beautiful shield containing these
words from the Emancipation Proclamation:
"UPoS THIS Acr, SINCERELY BELIEVED TO
ne An ACT or JUSTICE WARRANTED BY
THE CONSTITUTION UPON MILITARY Ne
cEssrry, INVOKE THE CONSIDERABLE
JUDGMENT OF MANKIND AND THE GRA-
cIous FAVOR OF ALMIGHTY Con-
THE PUBLIC EXERCISES.
The Chairman OF the Committee Of Arrange
ments, CHARLES A. STAcKPoLE ESQ.,, called
the assembly to order, and with few appro-
pirate remarks, announced the following list
Of officers, selected for the organization Of the
meeting:
PRESIDENT -