Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-05-01
SENATOR TRUMBULL ON EMANcI-
PATTON.

Mr.. President and FsltoW- Cfti7ens-I am
here to-day to rejoice with you in this ami
yersary of your ifeedom-fieedom from the
most abiect bondage ever visited upon any
portion of tho human race--reedom that
makes you masters OF yourselves, protects
you in the enjoyment Of the family relation,
secures to you your children, prevents the
father from being torn from his child, and
the mother from being torn from her infant.
[Amen and applause. Secured, not without
a struggle, not without time, and not, may
say, by human instrumentalty Whatever
credit any of us or any man may claim for
the freedom enjoyed here to-day by four mil
lions of American citizens that credit be.
longsto Omnipotence, who has so nodded
events that some OF us have been instruments
merely in bringing about this greatest and
grandest result in the history of the human
race. [Applause.l
The first step taken in this direction was
in 1861, at the special session of Congress-
convened by the then President Lincoln, at
the commencement of the rebellion. In July
of that year there was introduced into the
Congress of the United States bill which
became law on the 9th of August, 1861,
disoharging from seryitude every person
claimed as a slave who was made use of by
his master in aid of the wicked rebellion
[Cheers.l That was the beginning of cman-
cipatlon.
In April, 1859, four years ago, was passed
that act which made free every slave in the
District of Columbia. Enthusiastic cheers.
You meet now to celebrate the fourth ami
versary of that act. Then your freedom was
declared upon compensation, and million
dollars was appropriated by the Federal
Congress TO pay men claiming to be your
masters who had no more right to your ser
vices than you to theirs [Cries of "Good,
and cheers We soon learned better than
that, thank God. On the 18th of July, 1862,
was passed the first great act of emancipa-
tion. 1t was an act which, In my judg-
ment, has never received sufficient consider
alton from the American people That act
declared that every slave claimed by a Rebel
and nearly every man who claimed a slave
was a Rebel-["T true, " and cheers.
and who should flee from his Rebel master
and come within sight of the Stars and
Stripes of his country, should forever be
iree-[applause THAT the gallant armies Of
tho Union as they swept over rebeldom
should carry with them the freedom of every
slave that came within their lines-that in
every portion OF our country, every place
which had been occupied by Rebel, when
it came into possession of the armies of the
Union, should from that time forth be place
Of freedom alone. That was the great act
of emancipation Of 1862.
The President of the United States, on the
s2d of September, 1869, promulgated this
law in proclamation, and called the atten-
ton of the commanders Of our army and
navy to its enforcement. And he further
gave notice that unless these Rebels returned
to their allegiance, he would himself issue a
proclamation on the 1st OF January follow
ing, declaring free the colored people within
certain specified districts When that time
arrived, on the 1st of January, 1858, he
promulgated that proclamation, by which he
declared slavery abolished in nine slave
holding States, and in portions of two others,
leaving four States untouched by his procla-
nation and parts of two Others
The Congress OF the United States on
subsequent day--in February, 1865, / think
to finally and forever settle this question,
and to establish freedom forever upon foun-
dations as immutable as the Government
itself, passed proposition for the amend.
ment of the Constitution, declaring that
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude
should exist within the United States or in
any place subject to its jurisdiction. Since
Congress assembled this Winter that consti-
tutional amendment has been ratified by the
requisite number of States, and is now made
forever to remain, while this Government
endures, one of the pillars on which the
Government stands. Hearty applause.
That was the great constitutional amend
ment, confined to no State or part of State
but as broad as the land, reaching from
ocean to ocean, and from the Canadas to the
Gulf, and to extend over the continent when
it all comes to be embraced in one United
States of America, as some time it will
with no slave to breathe within its limits
[Cheering.]
However, this great declaration was no
all that was necessary. 1t was important
essential, that freedom should be protected
1t mattered little to any of you that yol
were declared free while you were denied al
your rights. Why, the Declaration of Indie
pendence, which our fathers proclaimed
ninety years ago, said that all men wer
created equal, and endowed with certain in
alienable rights, among which were life
; liberty and the pursuit of happiness-wha
was it worth TO you? Nothing. In def
ance of that immortal declaration, and al
: these fundamental truths, tour millions o
you were held in abject slavery. THAT
! true.l You needed, therefore, some mean
, to protect you in your freedom. Yo,
wanted law YOU could make use of, tina
b when your rights were encroached upon
you yourselves should have the means @
Nindicating them. [Brayo.l That law, b.
1 the blessing of God, was enacted Que wee
ago last Monday, Loud and continue
cheering.l 1t is part and parcel of the grea
constitutional amendment, and to give
h practical effect that law declares that ever
! human being, no matter what his color, n
i matter what his condition, born on America
! soil, is an American citizen [much applausel
clothed with all the rights belonging to a
? American citizen. And 1t will be blessin
to you, to protect you from oppression, as
was in the days OF Rome, when n man n
ia matter in what part of the world he migl