New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-13
RECORD OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.

| during It's ten years OF power. III Dchuii "a
the cause of liberty and equal political and
| civil rights to ali men, without regard to
race or color, will be matter of useful IN,
formation to our readers at this time, ana
aid them in coming to just and correct
decision as to the party they can the most
safely trust hereafter.
The first blow at the ''divine" institution
| of slavery was bill, which became law
| in August 1851, eonfcating all property and
| setting free all slaves used in aid of the re-
| bellion.
| Janury 25, 1862, a law was passed pro-
hibiting the use of the jjails of this district
for the Imprisonment of fugitive slaves
| The great measure emancipating the
| three thonsand slaves of this district
| passed both houses of Congress and was
| signed by the President in April, 1862.
On the thirteenth of March, 1862, a bill
became a law forbidding and Furnishing
the return of fugitive slaves coming into
our line, by naval and military officers.
March of the same year the President
had recommended the passage of joint
| resolution proposing cooperation between
the general government and the slave
| States for the general abolition of slavery
| ON the principle of compensation to the
| owners, During the month bill covering
| this suggestion passed both houses, and
was signed by the President April TO-
The bill abolishing the long-existing,
| odious distinctions in this district against
| the eolored people, such as taxing them for
| the education of white children and deny
| ing them all benefit from the tax, became
| a law in May.
June 19, 1862, the President signed bill,
| which had passed both houses, prohibiting
| slavery forever in all the Territories of the
| United States.
| June, 1862, law was enacted establishing
| diplomatic relations with the republics of
| Liberia 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 Interstate coastwise slave trade.
In July, 1862, bill became a law eman-
cipating slaves coming within our lines,
whose masters were in rebellion, and all
slaves found in places captured by our
troops.
July :, 1862, President Lincoln approved
bill Furnishing the infamous practice of
using the American flag for the protection
of vessels engaged in the slave trade, in
defiance, as had grown to be the practice,
of plain constitutional provision. Under
the provisions of this act, one Gordon, cap
tured while engaged in the slave trade, was
tried convicted and executed.
July IL, 1862, law was enacted author
izing the enlistment and military organiza-
ton of eolored men.
September %, 1862, President Lincoln is
sued proclamation declaring that on the
first of January ensuing, he should issue
another proclaiming all persons free in such
States as might be named. And on that
day the immortal declaration declaring all
slaves forever free in Arkansas, Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
North and South Carolina and Virginia was
issued.
March, 1868, law was enacted incorpo-
rating an institution for the education of
colored youths, to be located in this Dis
trict, from which has grown up the Howard
University.
law was enacted in February, 1864, en-
rolling all colored men, whether slaves or
not, into the national forces. allowing loyal
masters bounty of $500 for their slaves
afterward reduced to 500 bounty. But
this was wholly repealed in 1867.
On. the eleventh of June. 1864, bill be-
came a law placing cOlored soldiers on a
footing of equality IL all respects with
white soldiers.
the infamous Democratic fugitive slave
law.
In 1864 a law was passed allowing col
ored men to contract for carrying the
mails.
The year before the act was passed pro-
hibiting all distinctions on account of race
or color in the public conveyances of the
District.
The law creating. the Freedmen's bureau
was passed early in the year 1860.
January q, 1865, the famous thirteenth
amendment TO the constitution, which had
previously been approved by the Senate,
passed the House of Representatives,
forever abolishing slavery in the United
States.
During this year acts were passed re-
pealing the various measures enacted by
ha .tnhnSOn7S
designed to re-establish slavery. in another
form, authorizing the disgraceful ap-
premiership system, the law in regard to
vagrancy, and authorizing the whipping of
negroes.
The same year a law was passed abolish
ing the system OF peonage slavery In New
Mexico.
In December, 1865, a resolution passed |
both houses of Congress, appointing joint |
committee on reconstruction, to whom was |
referred the credentials. of all persons |
claiming seats from Johnson 8 reconstructed |
States, and all measures in regard to recon
structiOn. E-t
February %, 1866, an act was passed de-
claring that none of the rebel States were |
entitled to representation in Congress until
Congress shall have declared such right
In April, 1866, the civil rights bill, which |
johnson had vetoed, became law by re-
ceiving the necessary twO-thirds majority. |
June Is, 1866, the fourteenth amendment
was passed, making all persons born or
naturalizcd in the United States citizens,
prohibiting the States from passing any
law which shall abridge the annultles or
privileges of such citizens, defining who
shall be Senators or Representatives, pro-
tecting the civil rights of all citizens, de-
claring that the validity of the public debt
shall never be questioned, and prohibiting
the United States and the several States
from ever assuming or paying the rebel
debt, and rendering it illegal and void.
In December, 1866, Congress passed, over
Johnsons veto, an act establishing uni
versal suffrage in this district.
In January 1867, bill was passed de-
claring that within no territory of the
United States should suffrage be denied on
account of race, color or former condition.
In February, 1867, the fifteenth amend
suffrage, and forever prohibiting its with
drawal, passed both branches of Congress.
In March, 1869, a law was passed striking
the word white from all the ordinances of
this district, destroying all discrimination
against colored men III such laws or Ordi-
nances.
In May, 1870, the bill known as the en-
forcement act became law, its object be-
ing to protect colored men in all the rights
to which other citizens are entitled.
In April, 1871, Congress passed what is
known as the Ku-Klux act, giving the
President power to protect the loyal people
of the South against organized bands of as
sassins, and rendering the people OF
county or city, under certain conditions,
tor the damages done therein
by these outlaws.
Such. briefly, are the leading measures
adopted by Republican Congress- and