Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-08-09
lFrom Fred. Douglass New National Era,
Washington D. c. July az
Record OF the Republican Party In Be-
half Of Liberty and Equal Rights.


ty and equal political and civil righi
to all men, without regard to race {
color, will be a matter of useful info
nation to our readers at this time, an
aid them in coming to q just and col
rect decision as to the party they ca
the most safely trust hereafter.
! The first blow at the ftDivine" in
stit1tion of slavery was 8 bill. whic
became law in August, 1851, confis
eating all property and setting free a
slaves used in aid of the rebellion.
January 25, 1852, q law was passe
prohibiting the use of the jails of thi
District for the imprisonment Of fugi
tive slaves.
The great measure emancipatinj
the three Thousand slaves of the Dis
| trict passed both Houses of Congres
and was signed by the President il
April, 1852. o..
On the 18th of March, 1862, a bill
became law 6oFbidding and punish
ing the retRrn-of fugative slaves
coming into our lines. by naval anC
mihtaEy officers. "a
March 6, of the same year, the
President had recommended the pas.
sage of q joint resolution proposing {
cooperation between the General
Government and the slave States fol
the general abolition of slavery, on
the principle of compensation to the
owners. Dnring the month a bill
covering the suggestion passed both
Houses, and was signed by the Ppesi-
dent April 10. r.
The BILL ab0lishing the long-exist-
ing, odious distinctions in this Dis
trict against the eolored people, such
As taxing them for the education OF
white children and denying them all
benefit from the tax, became law in
May, 1862.
June l9th, 1872, the President sign
ed q bill, which had passed both Hous-
es, prohibiting slavery forever in all
Territories Of the United States.
June, 1852, law was enacted es-
tabIishing diplomatic relations with
the republics Of Liberia and Hayti.
In July, of the same year, q law
Was passed eonferring upon colored
persons the right to testify in courts
Of Justice; also, prohibiting the inter.
States eORstwise slave trade.
In July, 1862, a bill became q law
emaneipating slaves coming within
our lines whose mr. tiers were in re-
bellion and all slaves found In places
captured by our troops.
July z, 1859, President Lincoln ap-
proved q bill Furnishing the infamous
practice of using the American flag
Tor the protection of vessels engaged
in the slave trade, in open defiance,
as had grown 10 be the practice, Of a
plain constitutional provision. Under
the provisions of this act one Gordon,
captured while engaged in the slave
trade, was tried, convicted, and exc
euted.
July Il, 1862, law was enacted
authorizing the enlistment and mill
tary organisation Of colored men.
September %, 1852, President Lin
coin issued a proclamation declaring
that on the lst of January ensuing he
should issue another prOclaiming all
persons free in such States as might
be named. And on that day the i'm
mortal declaration declaring al Slaves
forever free in Arkansas, Texas, Lousi-
ana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
North and South Carolina, and Vir-
ginia was issued.
March, 1858, q law was enacted in
an institution for the edu-
cation OF colored youths, TO be located
In this District, from which has grown
up the Howard University.
A law was enacted in February,
1854, enrolling all colOred men, wheth-
er slaves or not, into the national
forces, allowing loyal masters a boun-
81 of $500 for their slaves-afterwards
reduced to Sl00 bounty. But this was
wholly repealed in 1867.
On the 11th of June, 1854, bill be-
same law placing colOred soldiers
IN a footing Of equality in ali re-
Ipects with white soldiers.
June ., 1854, q bill was signed re-
DeaIinR the infRmous Democratic fugi
.ive-slaYe law.
In 1854 lsw was passed allowing
eolored men to contract for carrying
he mails.
The year before the act was passed
all distinctions on ae-
,eunt of race or color in the public
of this District.
The law creating the Freedman's
Bureau was passed early in the year
1855.
January q. 1855, the famous thir-
eenth amendment to the Constitu- !
ion, which had previously been ap-
proved by the Senate, passed the
House Of Representatives, forever |
.bolishing slavery in the United
States.
During this year acts were passed
the various measures snact-
ID by the Southern States under |
rohnson's rule, designed to re-estab-
ishs slavery in another form, author
zing the dssgraeeful apprenticeship
ystem, the law in regard 70 Vagran-
y, snd authorizing the whipping Of
negroes.
The same year a law was passed
bolishiAg the system OF peOnage sla-
cry IN New Mexico.
In December, 1865, q. resolution
Iassed both Houses OF Congress ap-
.0lnting the joint Committee on
RECONSTRUCTION, to whom was referred
he credentials Of all persons claim
1g seats from Johnson's reconstruct
d States, and all measures in regard
D reconstruction.
February 2S, 1866, an act was passed
eclaring that none Of the rebeIStates
Tsre entitled to representation in
congress until Congress shall have
eolsred such right.
In April, 1866, the civil rights bill,
'hich Johnson had vetoed, became a
w by receiving the necessary two.
birds majority.
June Is, 1886, the fourteenth amend
lent was passed, making all persons
orn or naturalized in the United
tstes citizens prohibiting the States
'om passing any law which shall
bridge the annuities or privileges OF /
lch citizens, defining who shall be /
enatOrs or Representatives, protect
lg the civil rights Of all citizens de-
airing that the validity Of the pub