Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-16
HOW EMANCIPATION DAY WAS ENFORCED
IN THE DISTRICT.

H. y.
HOW EMANCIPATION DAY WAS ENFORCED
IN THE DISTRICT.
A SKETCH OF THE EVENT.
HOW THE LAW WAS PAssED-THR WAY THK COM
MISSION WAS oRGAEIzED-THR COLONIZATION
FEATURE-wHAT THE CITY COUNCILS DID-AP-
PRAISING THE sLAvES-AN EXPERT EMPLOYED
INTERESTING PERSONAL DETAILS.
IL the Fourth Of July, after the lapse OF more
than century, has not ceased to awaken a
throb OF patriotic joy In the breast OF every true
American OF the white race; how shall not the
sixteenth Of April be celebrated as a
day sacred to Liberty by every colored
inhabitant Of the District Of Columbia9
Our ancestors Of colonial times were
freen1en. They were born Free and were
never deprived OF personal liberty. Their com
plant against the mother country was that she
claimed the right to tax them without repre-
sentat1on. The grievance was an affront to their
personal dignity. to their independence OF Spirit
and an invasion OF their inalienable rights as the
descendants Of free-b0rn Brttons. But as bur-
the parliamentary pretension was, In contrast
With chattel slavery, as the thickness Of the
little finger is to the loins. All honor, then, to
the sixteenth OF April, and tOthe cOlored people
| who keep 1t as holiday.
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
| The abolition Of slavery in the District of CO.
| Iumb1a had been occasionally referred to by the
| press and Id Congress, In the earlier years OF
The republic, as among possible political issues;
| but as time advanced. and as the slavery con-
the public view. In those "better days" the
| eminent men Of Virginia, such as John Ran.
| dolph OF Roanoke, hes!tated not to denounce
1.-The traffic IN human flesh, (" in full view OF the
| fiSprQnp O
| one time proposed the abolition OF the system;
| but he was met by the stern opposition Of his
own constituents and OF the whole south, and
| was constrained TO abandon his generous pur-
! pose. Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr.. Web
| ster held that the constitution conferred the
| power to abolish slavery In the District: but
| they all agreed In the opinion that II would be
| ineXpedient TO exercise the power while the
| institution continued TO exist In the adjacent
states OF Virginia and Maryland. And even
John Quincy Adams, the stern and stalwart
! opponent OF slavery conceded the tmpolicy Of
! tie measure, While contending for Its abstract
| justice, as we'll as constitutionalty.
| THE politicians who succeeded these eminent
| M were too cautious to ayow the obnoxious
| sentiment, and they were prone TO deny, rather
| II an to admit proposition which might at
| & me tinle work injury to slavery. Not even
tho republicans, prior to the war; yentured to
| present the question as political issue. They
| claimed the right, but waved It's exercise; While
| Constitutional power and the moral right
TIE EMANCIPATION ISSUE.
II this great law OF emancipation had been
| enacted at any time prior to the civil war It
| would have shaken the nation like an earth
| quake, and 1t would probably have preclpitated
| the secession and rebellion OF the southern
states instead OF following as consequence of
| those events. But 1t came amid wars cloud
alarums." 1t was regarded as mere incident
| OF the great struggle, and thus passed off with
| out attracting more than an occasional notice
| from the press and people OF the country at
large. MI. Summer, In his speech On the bill,
| presents an idea Of the importance which he
| attached to the measure, In his finest style OF
elevated oratOry. He said:
"Mr. President, with unspeakable delight
| hail this measure ana the prospect Of its speedy
| adoption. 1t is the first instailment Of that
! great debt Which We all owe to an enslayed
| race, and will be recognized In history as one
| OF the victories OF humanity. At home. through
| out our own country, 1t will be welcomed with
| gratitude, While abroad 1t Will quicken the
| hopes Of all who love freedom. Liberal fnstt-
| tutions viii gain everywhere by the abolition
OF slavery at the National Capital Nobody can
| read that slaves were once sold in the markets
| Of Rome beneath the eyes Of the Sovereign
| oontifr, without confessing the scandal to re-
DgioD, even 10 barbarouS age; and nobody
| can hear that slaves are now sold 10 the mar
| kets OF Washington beneath the eyes OF the
| President without confesSing the scandal 70
| liberal institutions. For the sake OF our good
name, If not fol- the sake OF justice, let the scan.
| Qal disappear"
| THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY In THE DISTRICT
DETAILS OF THE ACT.
The bill for the abolition Of slavery In the
| District OF Columbia was introduced In the
| Senate, December lG, 1861, by Mr.. Wilson, of
| Massachusetts. 1t provided that all persons
| held to service or labor by reason OF African
deacent, In the District OF Columbia, should be
| discharged from said service or labor 1mmedf-
ately on the passage Of the act; and that
neither slavery nor Involuntary Servitude, ex-
cept for crime, whereof the party shall be duly
convicted, shall hereafter exist in said District.
The act provided Tor the appointment of three
commissioners, who were to hear and determine
the claims of the Shareholders for compensation.
The latter were required to present their petit
lions, setting forth the names. ages and est
mated value of the slaves, With the nature OF
the title by which they were held. They wera
required to swear to the petitions, and TO take
and subscribe what is known as the "iron-clad
oath" OF allegiance and non participation In the
| rebellion; but these Oath5 were not to be re-
ceived by the commissioners as conclusive proof
| of the facts sworn to. They were required to
| invite and receive testimony In regard to the
| loyalty Of the claimants, the validity OF their
titles, and to the value OF the slaves.
The awards Of compensation were not to SEX
| Ceed In the aggregate an amount equal to three
| hundred dollars for each person shown to have
been so held by lawful Claims, with proviso
| that nothing was to be paid for slaves brought
| into the District after the passage OF the act.
The commissioners We're to be paid two
thousand dollars each for their services. They
| OF two hundred dollars per month, and the
marshal Of the District OF Columbia was re.
CURED 70 attend them IN person or by deputy,
| CT order.
One million OF dollars was appropriated for
| the purpose OF carrying the act into effect and
! an additional appropriation Of one hundred
thousand dollars was made, to be expended
| under the direction OF the President to aid In
| colonization and settlement 6; such free per-
| sons OF African descent now residing In the
District, including those to be liberated by this
| act, as may desire to emgrate to the republics
| OF Hayu or Liberia, or such other country be-
yond the limits OF the United States as the
| President may determine.
The clerk OF the Circuit Court of the District
Of Columbia was required to give certificate
! OF freedom to all persons emancipated by tne
| act.
| THE COLONIZATION FEATURE.
The appropriation to aid the colonization Of
the freed people beyond the limits OF the United
States originated with Mr. Garrett Davis, the
Senator from Kentucky. He proposed tnat tne
| emancipated people should be c0lonfze0 beyond