The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-08-03

March 6, of the same year, the
President had recommended the
passage of a joint resolution propos
ing cooperation between the Gen
eral Government and the slave States
for the general abolition of slavery
on the principle of compensation tc
the owners. During the month bill
covering this suggestion passed both
Houses, and was signed by the Pres
ident April 10.
The bill abolishing the long-exist'
ing, odious distinction in this Dis
trict against the colored people.
such as taxing them for the educa'
ton for the white children and de.
nying them all benefit from the tax,
became a law in May, 1852.
June 10Th, 1862, signed a bill,
which had passed both Houses, pro-
hibiting slavery forever in all the
Territories of the United States.
June, 1862, a law was enacted es-
tablishing diplomatic relations with
the republics ofLiberia and Hayti.
In July, of the same year, law
was passed comforting upon colored
persons the right to testify in courts
of justice; also prohibiting the inter
State coastwise slave trade.
In July, 1862, bill became law
emancipating slaves coming within
our lines whose masters were in re-
beiIion and all slaves found in places
captured by our troops.
July, 7, 1862, President LINCOLN
approved bill Furnishing the intam'
Gus practice of using the American
flag for the protection for vessels en-
gagged in the slave trade, in open de-
fiance, as had grown to be the prac'
tice, of a plain constitutional provis'
ion. Uuder the provisions of this
act one GORDON, captured while en-.
gagged in the slave trade, was tried,
convicted, and executed.
July, II, 1862, law was enacted
authorizing the enlistment and mill
tary organization of colored men.
September, %, 1862, President
LINCOLN issued proclamation de-
claring that on the first of January
ensuing another proclaiming all per-
sons free in such States as mi ght be
named. And on that day the i'm
mortal declaration declaring all slaves
toreuer free in Arkansas, Texas, Lou
isiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
North and South Carolina, and Vir-
ginia, was issued.
March, 1868, law was enacted
Incorporating an institution for the
education of the colored youths, to
be located in this District, from
which has grown up the Howard
University.
A law was enacted in February
1864, enrolling all colored men,
whether slaves or not, into the ma
tional forces, allowing loyal masters
a bounty of $500 dollars for their
slaves-afterwards reduced to 800
bounty. But this was wholly re-
pealed in 1867.
On the 1lth of June, 1864, bill
became law placing colored sol
diers on footing equality in all Re-
spects with white soldiers.
June 2Sth 1864, a bill was sig ned
repeating the infamous Democratic
fugitive slave law.
In 1864 law was passed allowing
cOlored men to contract for carrying
the mails.
The year before the act was
passed prohibiting all distinctions on
account of race or color in the pub
lie convevances of this District.
The law creating the Freedman's
Bureau was passed early in the year
1865.
January 81, 1865, the famous
thirteenth amendm ent to the Consti-
tuition, which had previously been
approved by the Senate, passed the
House of Representatives, forever
abolishing slavery III the United
States.
During this year acts we're passed
repeating the various measures en-
acted by the Southern States under
JoHNsON's rule, desiring to re-estab,
lish slavery in another form, author,
izing the disgraceful apprenticeship
system, the law in regard to vagran
cy, and authorizing the whipping OF
negroes.
The same year law was passed
abolishing the system of peonage
slavery in New Mexico.
In December, 1865, resolution
passed both Houses Congress APP,
pointing the joint Committee of Re
construction, to whom was referred
the credentials of all persons claim
ing seats from JOHNsoN's recon
structed States, and all measures il
regard to reconstruction.
FEBRUARY %, 1866, an act was
passed declaring that none of the reb
ell States were entitled to representa-
ton in Congress until Congress shall
have declared such right.
In April. 1866, the civil rights bill
which JOHNSON had vetoed, becam,
law by receiving the necessary
thirds majority.
June Is, 1866, the fourteenth
amendment was passed, making al
persons born or naturalized IN thu
United States citizens, prohibiting
the State from passing any law which
shall abridge the annuities or privieg
es of such citizens. defining whC
shall be Senators or Representatives
protecting the civil rights of all cit
liens, declaring that the validity o
the public debt shall never b.
questioned, and prohibiting the Uni
ted States and the several State
from ever assuming or paying tn,
rebel debt, and rendering it illega
and void.
In December, 1866, Congress
passed over JoHNsoN's veto an &C
establishing universal suffrage il
this District.
In January, 1867, bill was passet
declaring that within no Territory o
the United States should suffrag,
be denied on account of race, color
or former condition.
In February, 1867, the fifteenth
amendment, securing the coloreo
men the right of suffrage, ant
forever prohibiting its withdrawal
passed both branches of Congress.
In March. 1869, a law was passet
striking the word aohite from all thu
ordinances Of this District, destroy
ing all discrimination against coloret
men in such laws or ordinances.
In May, 1870, the bill known al
the enforcement act became law