The Portland daily press., 1865-07-21
ANTI-sLAvERY MEASURES IN CON-
RRESS

A new edition of Senator Wilson's "History
of the Anti-Slavery Measures of the Thirty
seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses" has
just been. issued. 1t is somewhat enlarged,
and, now comprises record of all the most
significant events of the war, as well as of all
Congressional action on the subject of slavery,
from 1861 to 1861 inclusive The first bill af-
fecting the subject was that of Mr.. Trumbull,
reported on the 10th of July, 1861. 1t provid-
ed for the confiscation of all property used in
aid of the rebellion, and had an amendment
attached emancipating slaves used for military
purposes. 1t passed and became law.
\ In February, 1862, a bill was reported from
the Committee on Military Affairs, by Mr..
Frank Blair, amending the articles of war so
as to prohibit the employment of soldiers for
the return of fugitive slaves. This bill also
passed and became law.
The next question mooted was the abolition
of slavery in the District OF Columbia. 1t was
first introduced in Congress by Mr.. Wilson
himself, in December, 1861, but it was not till
February of the next year that bill was re-
ported in the Senate by Mr.. Morrill,. 1t was
passed early in April, was moved in the House.
and passed by that body during the same
month. On the 9th. of March, 1862, the
special message of Mr.. Lincoln, proposing to
offer aid to the States in abolishing slavery,
was transmitted. The resolutions in relation
to this were warmly debated, and finally pass
ed both Houses, but no State condescended to
accept the aid. 3 HF6Ge SO ~ sI3s 4i84 L.3A8
March "a, 1852, Mr.. Arnold, of Illinois, in
troduced bill prohibiting slavery in the ter
ritories. 1t was adopted and was soon follow
ed by the Confscation bill, which emancipat-
ed slaves employed in the war.
Next came the recognition of the republics
of Hayti and Liberia, the bill to provide for
carrying into effect the treaties for the suppress
sion of the slave trade, and one providing for
the education of colored children in the Dis
trict of Columbia. gosAss Sa aog aa 40 5a5fs
The next measure was the employment of
colored men as soldiers. A law authorizing
their enlistment or drafting into the army,
and providing for their freedom when muster
ed into the service, was passed in the same
session. sl-5 Y
In December, 1858, resolutions were intro
duced Into the House, by Messrs. Wilson (of
Iowa. and Ashley, for submitting to the States a
proposition to amend the Constitution, prohib-
iting slavery. In the Senate Messrs. Hender-
son and Sumner introduced similar resolu-
lions. Mr.. .Trumbull, to whom the two SEN
ate resolutions had been referred, reported adj
versely to Mr.. Summers resolution, and amend
ed Mr., Henderson's. It came up for consider
alton in the Senate on the 2Sth of March, and
after several days of debate, was adopted, So
to Q. 1t was reported in the House, and TAX
en- up on the 31st of May, voted upon June
18th and lost-93 to 65-not two thirds. The
vote was reconsidered, after prolonged de-
bate of weeks, and the resolution passed jan
uary 81, 1865, by vote Of 119 to Sc. Us.
Mr.. Wilson next gives an account of the diff
ferent bills introduced for, and the protracted
discussions relating to the repeal of the Fugi-
tive Slave law, stretching over period from
the 10th of December 1861, to the 18th of June
| 1854, when Mr.. Morris's bill repeating fugitive
slave acts, received the approval of the Presi-
dent. eN,as,
Then followed the measures to equalize the
pay of the white and colored soldiers, to make
free the wives and children of the latter, to es-
tablish the Freedmen's Bureau, to forbid in
the District of Columbia, the exclusion of col
ored persons from railcars, &c, &c.
"A sSuch' says AIr. Wilson in conclusion ARE
the 'anti-slavery measures' of the Thirty-sev-
enth and Thirty-eighth Congress during the
past four crowded years. Seldom in the his
tory Of nations is it given to any body of legis-
lators or lawgivers to enact or institute Sc
ries of measures so vast in their scope, SO com
prehensiye in their character, 50 patriotic, just
| or humane i'll sesi.-a4 n f..