Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-11
YEARS OF FREE.
DOM.
The Memorable Event Which Will Re
Celebrated Next Thursday.

u e
DOM.
The Memorable Event Which VIII BE
Celebrated Next Thursday.
HOW THE SLAVES HELD IN THE DISTRICT WERE
EMANCIPATED-MoNEY PAID TO THE DIS
POSSESSED SLAvE-owNERS - PROGRAM OF
THURSDAYS EXERCISES ETC.
Preparations have been in progress for several
weeks by the colored people of this District
for the celebration on the 10th instant Of the
23d anniversary of the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia. The procession will
form on Maryland avenue, Thursday morning
April 10th, at 10 o'clock, the right resting on
Maryland avenue and 41a street facing south,
the command to march will be given at Ii
O'Clock a. M, and the procession will move over
route taking in most Of the principal thorough
fares, passing in review before tho District Com
InissiOners and the President.
Mr.. Charles H. Marshall, the chief marshal of
the procession VIII be assisted by the following:
Right aid: John H. smith; left aid. Tilghman
secretaries of staff, ]. Q. Holmes, w. n. Jack,
son, Robert c. Powell; staff officers, John d.
Matthew lawson Albert Albert Brooks. george e Dam.
drigo, Chas. Langley, Geo. Fitchrew, Chas.
Robinson, 4. +. Redman, VIM. Scott, john T.
lin, VIM. II, Thomas, Daniel ID. Johnson, Frank
Gwynn, Frank Anderson, Stuart Campbell,
Clement smith. VIM: Moore, John II. Brooks.
son, Edward Lawson, Vim. Carney, Geo. n.
Gets, VIM. H. Smith, Wayman Brooks, Chas.
II: Ryor, Lewis T. Jackson, John Lee, Lawrence
West. f. w. Burnett, Chas. Curtis, John Keith.
The procession, which will be formed in seven
divisions, will include the colored military COM
panies and large number of civic Organiza-
tons. In the evening exercises will be held in
the Congregational Memorial church, corner
7:8O o'clock Hon Fred Douglass viii be the
orator of the evening and Hon. B. K. Bruce
presiding officer.
THE MEANING OF THE DAY.
The event which the day commentaries is
the abolition of slavery in the District of Col
umbia, but in this time and by this generation
the revolution in public sentiment and in the
social conditions which made this legislation
possible can hardly be appreciated, much less
understood. For thirty years prior to the war,
by petition and motions, the anti-slavery senti-
ment of the country had been vainly appealing
TO Congress to wipe out the stain Of slavery
from the national capital At times it seemed
as ii the entire anti-slavery movement had
cryStal1Zed into purpose to effect this much,
at least, and the fierce parliamentary battles
which ensued during these years, over the right
petitions praying for the abolition of slavery in
the District. The importance Of this question
was appreciated equally by the partisans on
Henry Clay, brought before Congress his bill,
known as the Omnibus BILL" which was de.
signed to heal the differences and unite the
place of equal Importance with such measures as
admission of California, and the enactment of a
aboishing the slave trade, but not slavery in
the District of Columbia This was one OF the
concessions Of the south to the north in this
part of the law Of the land in the enactment Of
that measure: During the ten years that inter
vened before the war the anti-slavery sentiment
grew in strength; but when the war broke out
1t was not understood by either friends or foes
of slavery to be war for the determination Of
af ho fnl1 <NfE e., fop ov1A
President Lincoln had issued his call for troops
when the Thirty-seventh Congress convened in
Kentucky, offered resolution, which was
adopted, declaring that the war was not being
Waged for the purpose of overthrowing or inter
tions of the southern states. Before that session
had terminated the battle of Bull Run had
ad and it that
in constructing earthworks, driving teams,
and in other forms Of military service
way the resources of the confederates were
greatly strengthened. Congress then proceeded
to enact the first law since the organization of
acquire his freedom. 1t provided that when
slaves In the employ of persons engaged in In
surrection against the United States shall be
States that all claim to the service or labor of
such person shall be forfeited. This law was
march of events became so rapid that
it was soon merged into legislation OF wider
scope: Nnen the Ihirty-seventh Congress
the west, had taken possession of Paducah, KY,
and had won the battle of Belmont, Mo-, while
In the east there had been the disaster at Balls
forces for the peninsular campaign.
THE BILL INTRODUCED.
On the 18th Of December Mr.. Henry Wilson
introduced a bill liberating all persons Of Afri-
can descent held to service within the District
of Columbia, and prohibiting slavery or invol-
untary servitude in the District except as a
punishment for crime. The bill also provided
slaves liberated, but limited their allowance in
the aggregate to an amount equal to $500 Der
slave. One million of dollars was appropriated
TO meet the expenses under this act. A pro-
vision was also inserted appropriating 100000
to coloniZe such of the slaves as desired to emil
CRATE to Hay or Liberia at an expense not to ex-
ceedSlOO for each person emigratng. The debate
In the Senate on this billy a long and animated
one, and 1T was predicted by the opponents of
the bill that such legislation would lead to q
war of EXTERN nation between the two races.
They said that the white Inhabitants of the states
ifthis policy was continued III regard to the slaves
elsewhere would never consent to allow the
freed slaves to live among them, but that they
would hunt them like wild beasts and exter-
inmate them 1t was also urged that Congress
had no constitutional right to take such action.
The bill passed the Senate April Sd, 1862, and
when taken up in the House the next week.
received the signature OF President Lincoln on
April Is, 1862. President Lincoln sent mes
sage 10 Congress announcing his signature Of
this bill, in which he stated that he had never
doubted the constitutional power of Congress
to abolish slavery in the District, and expressed
his qualification that the two principles OF
compensation and COLONIZATION were both rec
ognized in the act. He suggested that certain
classes, such as married WON en-, minors and
persons absent from the District had not been
sufficiently protected and provided for and q
bill remedying these defects became law in
the following July.
HOW THE Law WAS EXECUTED
The act provided for the appointment OF
three commissioners, who we're to hear and de-
termine the claims of the shareholders for COM
pensation. In pursuance of this act President
Lincoln appointed Mr.. Daniel r.. Goodloe, q
citizen of this District and still q resident az
the representative of the "biack republicans"
as the President subsequently remarked. He
also appointed Hon. Samuel F. Vinton, an ex-
member of Congress from Ohio, who repre-
scented the old wing party. On May 11th,
few days after his appointment, Mr.. Vinton
was then and subsequently second controller OF
the Treasury, was appointed in his place. Col
JAS u. Berret, representative democrat was
appointed as the third member Of the commits
Sion, but declined. and Hon. Horatfo King
who was Postmaster General under President
buchanan, was appointed. Mr.. William r
Woodward, who was then, as now, a member
OF the District bar, was appointed clerk and
the District marshal appointed Joseph +. Kel-
ley as his deputy to act with the com mission
and execute process. Henry Olive was the
messenger. The shareholders were required to
present their petitions setting forth the names,
m tod a<,ft1