New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-03
EMANcIPATpoN CELEBRATION
INTERESTING UORREsPONDENCE

The following correspondence has passe
between tho officers of the Emancipatio
! Club end Hon. william II. Burvell:
I 6eoAs CoQAIflrTKE eF ARRASGKhaNrs
1 Emancipation CIuh.
New Oyleans, July 30. 1875.
n. =, Duxeell. Asq.:
| ~ - sSSrSspecssSa.y isvjsSd teaddrsu
the assemblage ut our picnic, on Monday
| Augu8 2, 1875, at the Iair Grounds, At l.
! M. The committee would bs pleased +
I receive Q favorable answer
Very respectfully, < R co1RuRs.
Chairnan Committee OF Arrangements.
] JOSEPH A. CRAIG,
Secretary Emancipation Club.
New ORLEANS, August 2, 1879
r. B. Colburn, Rsq., Chairman. etc.:
DEAR SIK-P!ease accept and communi
! cate to your associates my respectful &C
knovledgment Of an invitation to attend
and address the meeting of this date. Ii
! is held under the auspices of the Emanci
! patton Club IN homer ''of tho abolition 0f
slavery in the British West ludia islands IN
| 1886 and the abolition of slavery In Lousi.
| ana by the Constitutional Convention OF
| 1862
yOur celebration. Your gratitude is un-
| doubtediy due to every agency which could
| lift man from condition OF servitude to
one of political equality: You have chosen
two occasions on which the race in bondage
has been freed wishout an act Of violence
upon their part. In the one case emancipa-
tion came from a philanthropy which ac-
knowledged the validity of bondage by
compensating the STAKEHOLDER, in the other
emancipation resulted from the violent
struggles between two forces The dykes
OF slavery, like those of our great rivers,
were cut as military measure.
In the casa of American emancipation
the liberated people were faithful to the
obligations of humanity. They toiled for
and protected the families of those with
whom they had been reared. They threw
up Notifications against those who came to
liberate them.
In neither case were the emancipated in
conspiracy to massacre those who held them
in bondage, while they undoubtedly rem
dered great military and other services IN
aid of those who had proclaimed them free.
For their conduct in this respect no one can
lmpute to them blame. There is no human
being who could cOndenA another for tho
wish to be free, still less for accepting the
boon if rendered to him by the hand OF
@nOther.
We ourselves have been impatient under
the control which the c0nquerOrs deemed
necessary for the maintenance of their sue
cess.
Since, therefore, freedom is assured be-
yon@ repeal, it is proper that the two races
should recognize two great facts:
l. That the association and apprentice
ship which has elevated the barbarian and
idOlater of Africa to the truths of Christian
ity, the customs of civilization and the
rights of republican citizen, has achieved
a result for which all who enjoy these
b}eeein % should be grateful.
2. That the fidelity and fOrbeafance of
tho emancipated, at period when their
former masters wero defeneeless, and sbe
emancipated people we're protected, is en-
titled to recognition by every honorable
man and woman.
3. That capacity to produce values and
render services, which formerly required
large outlay of capital, appeals to the in
terest of every citizen to cultivate and
increase this capacity.
Such are reasons why you, gentlemen,
should celebrate events which do so much
honor to the history OF your race, and
herald for it q happy future.
But it would be in every respect incon"
sistent that those should unite in the cele-
bration of these events who were res0lute
and unc0mpr0misiDg opponents of the last
event which you commemorate. Many of
these opponents based their action in paIt1
upon the apparent results whieo followed
African emancipation in the British West
Indies, followed by q destructive decline in
obe production and values Of the island.
Ia your kindness, gentlemen, you place |
me in the position Of friend of my early
life. Tue cousin Of Ned Caldwell was .
''painless principle" 1t consisted, I believe. |
in dividing the masseter muscle by way of
The young dentist having |
wrenabed out . jaw tooth for Ned requested
him to sign q certificate that it did not hurt
him. This Ned could not conscientiously do. |
The two cousins, however, remained the |
best of friends.
The opponents of African emancipation
IN the South relied on two great examples,
British West Indies. The first. was effected |
lnder circumstances of atr0clty which |
marked the unregenerate barbarian. 1t ex- |
ended to the massacre Of those who had |
INV mixture of the white race. The other /
vas followed by the most disastrous social |
md industrial decline, and. by a tendency |
o relapse into nonadic vagabondage and
superstition.
These two examples of violence and in
lustrial ruin furnished the only guide by |
phich the opponents of emancipation could |
nter the PROBABLE effects of similar meas
ire inflicted upon Themselves. A standard |
he consequences attributed to emanciFa-
ion:
I'VE know thai nothing but the coercion
# slavery can overcome their propensity to |
and that not one in ten would be 4
N efficient labOrde.
"Half our population would be paupers.
having the command of their own time
nd actions, they could more effecrually
Ombine insurrectiOn and provide the
means of rendering it formidable.
stGhe first and most obvious effect Of
maiicipstion would be to put an end to the
ultivation of our great staple.
ut is q great mistake to suppose that in /
var slavery would be 1source OF weakness"
1t is wholly useless TO discuss the justice
f apprehehsions, natural from the expe-
ience of others, but exploded by mere
Drce of facts. 1t is sufficient 20 say that
be mass Of those who fought the Southern
ide were moved by tie following reasons:
The constitutional obligation; 2. The
aluee involved; 3. The apprehension of
industry and social disorder.
The two first of these caases have been
anceled. The result of emancipation has
cen accepted and verified by constitutional
nsotments of the federal and State gov
rnments. The value represented by the
ave has been converted to toe use OF the
,eemsn. The value of q product which
nee Injured to the benefit of q class now
,sults to the iHerest OF all. The value
hich was once e1tbrted for the purchase
i labor is now kept at home. Society now
plains men without paving for them.
abor has capitalized iself Free labor 10
open market, and the enterpeise winch !
,uld not have commanded labor by whole
lie purchase now procures labor on hire.
be economical results of emancipation a.
Iey were unforeseen are indisputa6le.
ore money has, thds fas, ?eeultee -
. lsbos Of the freeman than from tho :