Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-15
From Fred Douglass' New National Era, J'y 90. |
Record Of the Republican Party
in Behdif of Liberty and
Equal Rights.

\ briet rccapitulation of the various
measures enacted by the Republican party
during its Ten years of power, in behalf
of the cause of liberty and equal political
and civil rights to all men, without re-
gard To race or color. will bc n matter oi
useful information To oui readers ut this
time, and aid them in coming TO a just
and correct decision rs to the party they
can the most safely trust hereafter.
The first blow nj the Divine institn
tiom of slavery, was n bill. which became
Il law in August, 1861, contiscating all
property and setting free alI slaves used
in aid of the rebellion.
January %. 1862, a law was passed,
prohibiting the use of the iails of this
District for the Imprisonment OF fugitive
slaves.
The great measure emancipatng the
three thousand slaves OF this District,
passed both Houses of Congress, and
was signed by The President in April,
1862.
On The 18th of March, 1862. bill be-
came law lorbidding and punishing the
return OF fugitive slaves. coming into
our lines. by naval or military officers
March 6, of the same year, the Presi
dent had recommended the passage OF n
joint resolution proposing II cooperation
between tho General Government and the
slave States for the general abolition of
slavery, on the principle OF compensation
to the owners. During the month n bill
covering this suggestion passed both
Houses, and was signed by the President
April TO-
Tie bill abolishing the long-existing,
odious distinctions in this District. against
the colored people, such rs taxing them
for the education OF white children and
denying them all benefit from the tax be.
came law in May, 1862.
June 18th, 1862, the President signed
y bin, which had passed both Houses,
prohibiting slavery forever in all the Ter
iitorcs of the United States.
June. 1862, law was enacted estab.
fishing diplomatic relations with ;hc re.
puhlcs of Liberia and lIayti.
In July, OF the same year, law was
passed comforting upon colored people
the right 10 testify in courts OF Justice;
also. prohibiting the inter State coast
wise slave narlc
In July, 1862, bill became 4 law
cmancipaling slaves coming within our
lines, whose masters were in rebellion,
and all sIavcs found in places captured
by our troops.
July I, 1862, Presidcn Lincoln approx.
ed bill furnishing the Infamous practice
oil using the American flag for protection
OF vessels engaged in the slave trade, in
open defiance, rs had grown TO be the
practice, of plain constitutional provis
ion. Under the provisions of this act,
ono Gordon, captured while engaged in
The slave trade, WAS tiled, convicted and
executed.
July IL, 1862, Il law was enacted al.
thorizing the enlistment and military or
ganiZation OF colored men.
September %, 1862. President Lincoln
issued u proclamation declaring that on
the lst of January ensuing, he should is
sue another, proclaiming all persons free
in such States rs might be uamed. And
on that day the immortal declaration de-
claring all slaces forerer free in Arkan.
sas, Texas. Louisiana, Mississippi. Ala.
bama, Florida, North and South Carolina
and Virginia was issued.
March, 1868. law was enacted incor-
porating an institution for The education
of 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 colorcd men, whether slaves
or mol, into the national forces, allowing
loyal masters bounty OF $500 for their
slav afterwards reduced TO 500 boun.
ty. But this was wholly repealed in 1867.
On the lth OF June, 1864, bill be.
came a law placing colored soldiers on q
looting of equality in all respects with
white soldiers.
June %, 1864, bill was signed re.
pcaling the Infamous Democratic iugi.
tive-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 public conveyances
of this district.
The law creating the Froedman's Blu.
reau was passed early in the year 1865.
January, 27, 1865, the famous thir-
teenth amendment to the Constitution,
which had previously been approved by
the Senate, passed the House Of Repre-
sentatives, forever abolishing slavery in
the United States.
During this year acts were passed re-
pealing the various measures enacted by
Southern States under Johnson's rule,
designed to establish slavery in another