Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-19
THE GREAT DEMONSTRATION By
THE COLORED PEOPLE.
Of Emancipation i'm the Dis
trict-The Procession-Inciden &c.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT

| SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
| The day is being celebrated with no little en-
thusiasm by the colored people of W ashington
| in honor of the emaR cipation of slaves in tn
| District of Columbia The colored people, To-
| several weeks past, have been preparing fol-
| this event, which was to have taken place OF
| Monday last, but postponed on account of tn,
| weather. This morning the weather continued
70 be cloudy, but the announcement being tina
the demonstration would take place, Grain OF
| shine" at an early hour crowds of those who
| were to take part in the procession and look.
ers-on began TO assemble at the place Of rem.
devious, Franklin Square, when the differen,
bodies were assigned to their proper places by
the chief marshal and his assistants As the
morning advanced the weather cleared up,
and rapid accessions were made 10 the tbrong
collected at Franklin Square
APPEARANCE OF THE SQUARE
Quite early numerous wagons, carts, &c,
were seen about the lot, from which were nm :
loaded tables and stands, and by the time the
procession started almost anything in the wav
OF substantlals and refres hments could he pro
cureo, the occupants all appearing to drive a
prosperous business.
Several houses in the vicinity of the rendez-
vous displayed the National colors and along
the line several flags were to be seen.
THE STANDS.
The stand erected on the south side OF the
square was calculated 10 seat about one hum
dred persons, and was Handsomely decorated.
a large National flag being DISPLAYED on either
side, and one hanging in festoons al the front
corners with one in 'front.' on which was a mes
sage OF President Lincoln as follws:
"Fellow-citizens OF the Senate and House Of
Representatives: The act entitled San act for
the release OF certain persons held 10 service or
labor in the District OF Columbia, has this day
been approved and signed.
April 10th, 1862 A LINCOLN
Over the top or this stand was the insrrip-
ton, .Lincoln. the Liberator of Millions: his
great work Is done, and he sleeps in peace in
the green praires OF the west" s.We are loy,I
dolngs, and IL Is marvellous in our eyes,
'."e have received our title to civil rights
give us the right OF suffrage and the work is
done. Besides the large flags about this
stand, there were a profusion of smaller flags
On the left Of the speakers stand smother
stand was erected for the musicians.
THE PROCESSION.
Some Of the organizations were not nm To
time In reaching the ground, but through good
management the marshals had everything
ready by II O'Clock, when the procession start
ed In the following order:
Alfred kiger, chief marshal, wearing a vel
low sash, with pink trimmings, with William
shorter and William Nichols as aids, blue
sashes.
1U7th U. s. colored troops. under the COM
mand OF Col ID. NJ. Sell, and Brevet Col. Ford.
headed by a fine band. This regiment was or
ganlZed in Kentucky, in 1864, and served in
the Army OF the Potomac till after the capture
OF OFT Fisher, when they were transferred TO
Gen sherman command. They number now
ABOUT 6OO men, and are garrisoning Fort Reno
ana battery Rodgers, on the south side of the
Potomac
Battalion OF the ith U. S, headed by a fine
band, and commanded by Mai. VIC. Hill.
from Fort Lincoln. This battalion Is attached
TO regiment recruited in Baltimore and has
seen considerable service in Virginia and North
SSs s% theE haS,ng fought at Fort E,,hsr
ry, n. c. Fair Oaks, Sugar Loaf, and Will
mington. n. e..
Marshals-Wm. Brown, John Cornell, c.
Clark: L. Hickman, VIM. Talliferro, J. ack-
son, Palm. Brisco, VIM. Beckett, q. Crusoe, A.
Jones, ID. G.. Muse, John +. Wilkinson, O.
Beckett, NJ. Warrick, S. Williams, II. Parker
J. d. Pierre G. Lemoe. These wore white
Simonds Commandery of Knights TempIar,
In full regalia- bearing in the line their fine
white silk banner on the face OF which appears
the red cross and 8 handsome national flag
The Commandery numbers about Is men. and
were headed by the Mozart Band; Isaac Clark,
marshal.
Two barouches, decorated with small flags.
In which were seated the following in yIted
guests Rev. ID. W. Anderson, Rev Bishop
Payne, Rev. l.. Grimes. Bishop Talbot, Rev
w. Howard Day.
Old FeHocs' Dirision.-W H. Beckett, chief
marshal; Alfred Upsher and Benz. Cant aides
John r. Cook Lodge, No llS5, with about IN
This lodge carried fine large white silk ban
ner, bearing on the front painting of three
females, Friendship, Love, and Truth, and on
the reverse likeness Of the late John +. Cook
Union Friendship Lodge, sol, Lewis How
ard marshal, with about 60 members in line
banner new, Of white silk, with handsome
soldier on one side and a member of the order
on the other, with a likeness of Peter Ogden.
the founder Of the order in this country, on the
reverse.
Eastern Star Lodge, J. H. Clarke marshal,
with about 40 members.
Potomac Union Lodge Of Georgetown, O.
Contee marshal, with about 80 members
Hope Lodge, No. 1, Of Good Samaritans
numbering about rs men, marshaled by Jos
BAKER, bearing two beautiful banners, one
having painting of Rebekah at the we'll and
the other the Good Samaritan administering
to the sick man on the roadside.
5th, 9th, 9TH and sth orders of Gallileeans,
marshaled by Henry Anderson, Jas. Selding
and Alfred Hawkins numbering about rs men.
Union League Council, No. 2, Of the Seventh
w ard, numbering about l50 men.
This portion Of the procession were all
clothed in the regalias OF the orders; which
was in some instances quite fine and was a
feature In the procession.
The Union Aid Society of the Freedmen of
Virginia, numbering about fifty, and marshaled
following notices "a Lincoln Thy memory
Is enshrined in the hearts of a grateful peo.
pie" "Lincoln Green be the grave above
thee, friend of our lowly days: none knew thee
but to love thee, none knew thee but to nraiss ;,
First in the line of the civic procession was
the delegation from Georgetow n, headed by
COLLINS Band, marshaled by u. Beckett. This
delegation numbered about 400, and in front a
large national flag was carried, while down the
line were the following notices :-"L Lord, thou
hast been our dwelling place in all genera
TONS" g Freedom to all;'' Slavery is dead,
let this be its funeral" The fool has said in
his heart there is no God" "Union and liberty
forever" The male scholars of Ebenezer Sun.
day School, numbering about IS, with banner
Juvenile Rechabites and Freedmen's School,
NO. IA, the two last numbering about u.s. The
Rechabites carried banner inscribed, aThe
Rechabites our name, Africa our nation
Georgetown our dwelling place, and Christ
our salvation"
Seventh Independent Zouave Organization,
Major Dennis Taylor marshal, numbering
about $50 in citizens dress, headed by the LIST
U. s. band, bearing among others the follow.
Ing notices: 81 wish all men to be free' "Oysr
all this land the day star Of liberty shines clear
and bright" "None will doubt our loyalty"
unconditional Suffrage"
First Ward-Marshaled by ID. Palmer mum.
bering about three hundred. Among the
notices carried in this part Of the process.
sion were the following: "In the clear blue
vault OF Heaven is Gods own bow of prom
ise;" "Universal Suffrage "Welcome the dav
we Celebrate" "Gracious Heaven we THANH
Thee that Thou hast smiled upon our hopes"
Several small flags were also carried in line
Second Ward-Lincoln Reserves, numbering
about 200 men, marshaled by J. Mcfarland.