Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-08-16

the colored 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 1862.
June 10, 1862, the President signed bill
which had passed both Houses, prohib ting
slavery forever in ell 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 a law was passed
comforting upon colored persons the right t.
testify in courts of Justice also, prohibiting
the Interstate coastwise slave trade.
In July, 1862, bill become a law emanci-
pating 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 us
/ ing the American flag for the protection of
vessels engaged in the slave trade, in open
defiance as had grown to 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 executed.
/ July Il, 1862, law was enacted author
icing the enlistment and military Organiza-
tion of colored men.
/ Setepmber %. 1862. President Lincoln
] lsSucu d pIOCldIldLlOn uCCidIlLiP lilhb On lllt
/ lst 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 nd
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 Districs
/ from which has grown up the Howard Uni
versity.
A law was enacted in February, 1861, en-
rolling all colored men, whether slaves or
not, into the national forces, allowing loyal
masters a bounty of S3G0 for their slaves
afterwards reduced to 500 bounty. But
this was wholly repealed IN 1867.
On the 18th of June, 1864, bill became
law placing colored soldiers on footing Of
equality in all respects with white soldiers.
June %, 1864, bill was signed repeal
ing tho infamous democratic fugitive slave
law
In 1864 a law was passed allowing eolored
men to contract for carrying the mails.
The year before, the act was passed pro
hlbiting all distinctions on account of race or
color IN the public couveyances this Dis
trict
The law creating the freedmen'S bureau
was passed early in the year 1865
January p, 1868, the famous 18th amend
ment to the constitution, which had previ
ously been approved by the Senate, passed
the House OF Representatives, forever abOl-
ishing slavery in tie United States.
During this year acts were passed repeal
ing the various measures enacted by the
southern States under Johnsons rule desi IN
ed to re establish slavery in another Tor II
authorizing the disgraceful Apprenticeship
system. the law in regard to vdgrancy, anl
authorizing the whipping of negroes.
The same year law was passsd abolish
ing the system OF peonage slavery in New
Mexico.
In December, 1865, resolution passed
both Houses of Congress appointing the join
committee on reconstruction, ID whom wa,
referred the credentials Of all persons claim
ing seats from Johnson reconstructed state
and all measures IN regard TO reconstruction
February Is, 1866 an act was passed
declaring that none OF the rebel States were
entitled TO representation in Congress unit
Congress shall have declared such right.
In April, 1866, the civil rights BIZ, which
J )hnson hai vetoed, became law by receiv-
ing the necessary twO-thIrds majority.
June -, 1866, the fourteenth amendment
was passed, making all persons loTn or natu-
rallied in the United states citizens. pro-
hibItIng the States from passing any law
which shall abrid-e the aunuitieS or urIyI
leges OF such citizens, defining who shall he
Senators or Representatives, protecting the
evil rights OF ali citizens, declaring that tie
validity of the public debt shall never be
questioned, and prohibiting the United state,
and the several states from ever assuming uI
paying the rebel d. bt, and rendering it Illegal
and void.
In December. 1866, Congress passed over
trr.rra.-.4|
suffrage in this District
In january, 1867, a bin was passed de-
cIaring that within no territory of the United
States should suffrage be denied on account
Of race color, or former condition.
In February, 1867, the 18th amendment
securing to courei men the right 81 suffrage,
and forever prohibiting its withdrawal pass
ed both branches Of Congress
In March, l~G9, law wac passed strikin.
the word white from all the ordinances OF
this District, destroying all Discrimination
against coiored men IN such laws or ordi-
nances
\ In May, 1870, the bill known as tho en-
forceu ent act became law, its object beng
to protect colored men in all the rights to
which other citizens are entitled.
In April, 1871, Congress pass cd what Il
known as the Ku-Klux act, giving the Presi-
dent power to protect the loyal people of the
South against organized bands OF assasslns,
and rendering the people Of county or city,
under certain conditions, responsible for the
damages done therein by these outlaws
Such, briefly, are the leading measures
adopted by a Republican Congress, and sane
toned and sustained by the Republican party,
for securing to the colored people Of the ma
ton the boon Of liberty aud the right OF
equal American citizenship.
As companion piece to this long list
of acts in the interest Of justice and human
ity, we ought perhaps to publish the record
of the Democratic party in behalf Of slavery.
wrong and outrage.
But it can hardly be necessary, at least
until the wounds Inflicted upon the backs OF
the four millions of cx-sIaves have had time
to heal If colored men bear no malice
against their Democratic owners, they will
not be apt to forget who fastened and who
broke their chains.