Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-15

Mondays Celebration and What IL
CONFERENCE.-The Order OF Process.
sion, Route, Etc.

CONFERENCE.-The Order OF Process.
sion, Route, Etc.
LEAF FROM DARK PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE ACTS THAT LED
TO THE FREEDOM OF THE sLAvEs-THg FES-
TIyTTIES ARRANGED FOR THE 10Th ANN
yERsARY.
The arrangements being made this year by the
prominent colored people of this District for ap-
propriafely celebrating the twentieth annfyer-
sary OF emancipation of the slaves in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. have from time to time been
noted in The STAR. The act which brought
freedom to the slaves OF this District received
the signature of President Lincoln, A priI 10th,
1882. As the anniversary OF which occurs this
year on Sunday, the festivities concentrating
the act will take place on Monday next.
These anniversaries hayeaways been observed
since 1862 with greater or less display according
to the degree Of enthusiasm felt by the colored
citizens and the means which they could CON-
mand.
On the approval of this act by President
Lincoln the enfrancbised bondsmen In this ilis-
trict assembled in their churches and offered up
the homage and gratitude Of their hearts to
God for the boon of personal freedom For scy-
erai years succeeding this most important event
when the colOred people were much more num-
erous In this District than now, extensive prepa-
ratl0ns were annually made for immense pro-
ceSsOns, church services, and social rejoicings
at their homes on the anniversary day OF late
years this interest seems to have gradually re-
Taxed until such displays have been so insignii-
cant as to provoke remarks OF ridcule The
close of the 10Th year of freedom, however,
seems to have found the colored people in a
good frame OF mind for a rousing celebration
and 1t is probable that Monday next will be q
day among them long to be remembered.
CONDITIONS THAT LED TO EMANCIPATION.
At this time it may not be amiss to recall
some of the trying events which Mondays cele-
bration will in part commemorate, and the parts
taken by some OF the principal actors. When
the republican party came into power it was
constrained by its political sentiments and by
the force Of the circumstances which imme,ti-
ately followed to adopt anti-slavery measures
me secession of the states which afterwards
formed the Confederate states wholly changed
the relations of the general government to the
institution of slavery. and when the southern
members left their places in Congress they left
the republican party free to exercise such power
as subsequent events suggested to its leaders
for the preservation of the Union, even to the
determination of slavery The anti-slayery
measures adopted by the government were orig
mated both in Congress and by the Executive
Inc dominant party having full possession of
the government, in accordance with the prnci-
pies promulgated at the convention in Phiadel-
phia in 1855 and reafi1rmed at Chicago in 1860
could not do otherwise than legislate against
slavery. President LincOln's primary and sole
Object for long time was the preservation of
the integrity OF the republic without regard to
slavery.
ANTI-sIAvERY LEGISLATION.
The measures adopted by Congress- In order,
were the liberation OF slaves used for insurrec-
tionary purposes by act of 9th August, 1861.
making forever free all slaves so used the pro-
hibitiOn of persons in the army from returning
fugltive slaves by act approved 18th March,
1852, the provisions of which dismissed from
the service officers guilty Of surrendering such
fug1tives; next, the abolition Of slavery in the
District Of Columbla-the same act granting
compensation to the legal owners of slaves bY
Hing Claims before q board of three commits
sioners appointed under the act for taking testi-
mony and granting remuneration. These CON-
missiOners were empowered to Investigate and
determine the validity OF SUCH claims, appraise
the value OF such slaves provided that tho sum
80 appOrtiOned did not exceed $500 for each
slave. The act limited the time within which
the commission should report to nine months
after the act was approved, and appropriated
u ,OO.00O fOi the purpose Of Carrying ont the
act. In addition to this 1t appropriated AlOO. 600
10 De expended under the direction Of the Presi-
dent. to aid in the colonization and settlement
of such freed persons In this District as might
desire to emigrate to the republic Of Hayti, Ii
IBERIA. or other countries beyond the limits of
the United States. But little desire was mani
tested on the part Of the freedmen to emigrate
and but little OF this appropriation was ex-
pended.
The next act passed was on 10th June 1852. to
secure freedom to all persons within the terri
tories OF the United States. This act settled
subject which for years had been one of incessant
and bitter controversy in and out of Congress
Next came the act approved 18th July 1862,
which authorized the President to receive into
the service OF the United States, for military or
naval service, persons of African descent 1t
also provided that any slave of a person in
reoeihon rendering any such service should for
ever thereafter be free, together with his wife
mother and children, should they also belong to
person in rebellion.
The confscatlon act followed and was approved
by President Lincoln, 18th July, 1862. 1t pro-
vided that all slaves of persons who gave aid and
comfort to the rebellion and vino might take
refuge within the lines of the army; all slaves
captured from such persons or deserted by them
and coming under the control of the govern
ment, all slaves of such persons found within
any place occupied by rebel forces should be
deemed captives OF war and to be forever free;
that slaves should not be surrendered to their
masters who had given aid to the rebellion; and
that no person engaged in the military OF naval
service should surrender fugitive slaves, on pain
of being dismissed from the service. There We're
equally the direction Of public policy Among
them were the admission of colored witnesses
into the courts of the District of Columbia the
restriction Of the old fugitive slave act, except
to the claimant who could make oath that ne
had not given aid and comfort to the rebellionx
the concession Of the right of search in the case
of suspected slave ships. and the recognition of
the republics of Hayti and Liberia.
THE ACTS OF THE PRESIDENT
may be prefaced by the statement that In his
first inaugural address Mr. Lincoln reiterated
declaration he had formerly made, that he had
no purpose, directly or indirectly. to interfere
with slavery where 1t existed in the states; that
his first chief duty was to save the Union with
out any reference to slavery; but finding that
the slave question could not be avoided he first
proposed plans of colonization and compensated
emancipation. In May, 1851, General Butler
commanding the department of Eastern Viz
ginia. declared slaves who had been EMPLOYED
for military purposes Of the confederacy to be
contrabands Of war. and appropriated them to
the purposes OF his own army, A similar order
followed soon after by General Fremont COM
handing in Missouri. This order was modified
by the President. but slaves who had performed
any service as servants or day laborers were