Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-08-11
lrom Fred. Douslsz' New National Era, July %.
Record Of the Republican Party in
Behalf Of Liberty and Equal Rights.

Record o. the Republican farty IN
Behalf Of Liberty and Equal Rights.
4 Jti.f reetFi,u'atioa of tie various meas
NE. el,e,,l by tae GepahI.,.n party, during
its ten years Of power, ia behalf Of the cause Of
liberty aul equal political and civil rights to
all men. ~ .,hcut regard to race or color, will be
a matter Of useful information to our readers at
this time, aul all them in coming to just and
eorre.t decision as TO the party they can the
m1s: safely trust hereafter
The ir., Blow ST the Sc Divine institution
Of slavery was a Iil. which became = law in
August, 1851. coadscating sll property aud
seru. free .G slaves used in all of the rebel
lin.
January 25, 1852, law vss passed. rrohb-
itnr the use Of the jals OF this District Cor the
imprisonment of fugitive slaves
TLe great measure emancipaiipg the three
thousand slaves Of his Distrct passed both
Hoa,es of Congress and was signed by the
President in April, 1862.
on the 18Th Of March, lsC3, bill became
law forbidiing aud furnishing the return Of fu-
g.ive slaves, coming into cur liues, by naval
anl military officers.
March 9th, Of the same year, the President
had recommended tbs passage Of joint resolu
ton proposing a cooperation between the Gene
raj Government and the slave States for the
general abolition ci slavery, 'on the principle Of
compensation to the owners. Daring the month
a bill covering this suggestion passed both
Houses, sni wss signed ty the President
April 10
The bill abolishing the long existing, olious
distinctions in ,hia District against the coiored
people, such SIS taxing them for the education
OF white children aud denying them sll benefit
from the tax, became law in May. 1862
June 10Th, ls63, the President signed bill,
which had passed both llousee, prohibiting
slavery forever 10 sll the Territories OF the Uni
/ ted States
June. 1862, d law was enacted establishing
/ diplomatic relations wiki the republics Of Libe-
ria and Hayti.
/ Ia July, Of the same year, a law was passed
conferriug upon coiored persons the right to
testify in courts of justice ; also, prohibiting
/ the interstate co.stwise slave trade.
In July, 1862 = bill became law emancipa-
/ ting slaves coming within our lines whoss mas
ters were in rebellion and sll slaves found in
/ places captured by our troops.
July :, 1862, President Lincoln spprovel
1 bill furnishing the infamous practice Of using
1 the American flag for the protection Of vessels
engaged in the slave trade, in open defiance, as
/ had grown to he the practice, Of plain c0nsti-
tuicnal provision. Under the provisions Of
this set one Gordon, captured while engsged in
the slave trade, was tried, convicted, and exc
cuied.
July Z. 1862, iaw WAS enacted authorizing
the enlistment anil military organization Of col
orei men,
September -. 1862, President Lincoln issued
proclamation declaring that on the lst of JAN
uary ensuing lie SHOULD issue another proclaim
ing all persons free in such Stsies as might be
named. And Tn that day the immortal declara-
tion declaring aH slares forever free in Ar
kansas. Texas, Louisiaus, Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida, North and S.u,h Csrolins, and Vir-
( sinia was issued.
March, 1868, law was enacted incorpors-
ting 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, enroll
ing all colored men, whether slaves or not, into
the nstiOual forces, allowing loyal masters
/ boanty Of $500 for their slayes-sfterwaris re-
duced to 800 bounty. But this was wholly re-
! pealed in 1867.
! On the lith Of June, 1854, a bill became
law pacing coi0fei soldiers on footing OF
/ equality in all respects with white soldiers
/ June %, 1861, bill wss signed repeating the
! infamous Democratic fagitive-slave law.
In 1864 a law was passed Showing eolared
men to contract for carrying the mails.
The year before the act YVES psssel prohibit
ing all distinctions on account Of race or color
in the public conveysnces Of this District.
| The law creating the Freednan's Bureau was
passed early in the year 1865.
January ~ 1868. the famous thirteenth
amendment to the Constitution. which had PIE