Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-16


on THE STREETS AFTER 10 ocLocK-sH.cKLEp
MN AND AUCTION SALES NOT COMMON SIGHTS IN
WASHINGTON.
To-day, the twenty-sixth anniversary OF tne
emancipation Of slaves in the District OF Coluln-
bia, Is being celebrated here by the colored
race Many people now living In the District, and
especially the younger ones, know or the Gays Oh
slavery only oy hearssy. Many OF these have an
idea because the laws were severe and tolerated
cruelty % the race that the District was verita-
BILE nest OF shareholders and drivers, and that in
ante-beIum days gangs OF shackled slaves would
be driven through the streets with the whip. 1t
"a true that there was a slave-pen here, and that
at times there were slaves bought and sold, but
the pen was used principally as a place TO keep
parties Of slaves en- route southwark
THE OLD sLAvK-PKN.
This pen was located In south washington, west
OF 9Th street and opposite the new Army Medical
Museum, but It's remains disappeared few years
ago. One CT the old coIored residents OF the city
states 10 a STAR reporter that when he was grow
ing up and became free man there was no out
ward distinction between bond and free, provided
that they behaved well. They played and worked
together, all apparently content. Wien II was
known that one was 70 be sold 1t was almost GER
tain that the party had py his own conduct caused
Ias EFFORT 70 sell There was also private sock
up In the northern part Of the city which an en-
terprfsing constable used Tor connnlng suspected
slaves until a rewar was offered for Them. This,
however because OF mistakes, proved rather a pre-
canous enterprise. and on more tnan one occasion
acts In taking up suspected slaves The laws at
one time prohibited teaching slaves 70 read and
write but the law was never strictly enforced here
some rather aged colOred citizens who were taught
in youth In their masters families
SCHOOLS FOR CoLoRED CHILDREN.
In some sections OF the city there were small
private schools attended by colored youths. BY
The corporation laws the sale OF liquor TO bond or
fraAs ruartx and prOh
Heads OF families were allo~ed TO keep dogs. The
free were required 10 file evidence that they were
such with the register Of the city. and on failure
were liable 10 commitment as Ascending slaves
free persons OF color coming into the District were
required 20 furnish evidence OF their freedom and
give BOND OF $50 annually for their good oehav-
Tor and pay TO the corporation $50 annu ally. There
could Dc no licenses granted cO.Ored people other
than 70 run hacks, wagons or carts.
TAXES ON SLAVES
Underthe act OF the councils of April 1923 taxes
were imposed on the slaves OF non-residents as fol-
lows: Males eighteen 10 live years OF age $50
per annum; from twelve TO eighteen years. s12, and
females from nfleen TO forty 81 per annum.
IL was required that every slave brought into the
District should be registered by tine owner, who
should also ne affidavit In the registers ol1ce. III
was also required that when slaves We're manu-
Iaitted In the DiStrlc: they should by December
10Th following pay $50 10 the corporation, and a
Ike SUM annually. Both free and slave blacks
were liable TO arrest found out OF doors after 10
O'Clock at night and all secret or private meetings
OF aSsenOages for any purpose whatsoever, H.
Guiding meetings for religious worship, were pro-
unlawful The oath OF a colored man was not
received against a white man.
JOSEPH sHoKrxR's REGULATIONS
Joseph shorter, q colored native OF the District,
and a barber for over nfty years, when asked by
STAR reporter to the days OF slavery in the Dis
trict said: There was no distinction between the
slave and the free OF my race provided OF course,
that they were well behaved. As a rule the saves
were treated kindly, and there was no trouble De-
tween
'atrocious treatment we hear so much about In
this Distinct The laws, 10 be sure, were hard
That which nulliled cOlOred person oath against
a white man was not Just one but there was
some good even out OF that. You know That the
America would have them No white boy could buy
them direct, for II summoned he would nave 10 tell
the truth Ihe way theS got over IL was 70 engage
band crackers were bought with no fear OF prose-
cution on the part OF the dealer. There was
another law which prohibited assemolages after
10 o'clock at night and this had the good effect of
compelling Us 10 keep good hours. We were not
allowed 10 assemble together after 10 O'Clock at
night. Consequently the MasOns and Odd Fellows
and other societies net early and adjourned early
AT the colOred churches, too-at the As0ury. then
ZIon. in Vest RasniIgton. Eoenezer' In East
Washington, Israel Bethel south OF the Capitol,
ZION Wesley, soath WASHINGTON, ah1 lsth-Street
same rule Special permits would, however,
be given for extra meetings. such as wateh-nisnt
meetings, when they would be Kept up TIL mid
night and reasonable time given us 10 reach our
homes Neither free nor slave were allowed out
after 10 O'Clock without permit from employer
master. As rule, however, Tree and slave en-
Joyed life then as well now, Tor IL was not diffi
cult Tor respectable orderly colOrsd people to oo
tain permit from the mayor or police on all proper
occasions one respectable white man, in person
or by letter. was suidclent 10 grant Us Immunity
bsIIey ATS sss tnays & SsoTder iSep IMAM
now. There were some slaves In the old days II
much thought OF In the old Washington families
as they could be, ami these seemed 10 esteem IL an
honor 20 belong 10 these families"
THE coLoRED SCHOOLS
The reporter asked II the colored people had
schools IN those days?
"Yes, sir" said the veteran barber, "there were
schools for eOlored people-pay schools. The FIRST
i remember was that OF Bob Brown on L street
between 18th and 10th streets This was early In
the 30s. and bis house " as orn down in The Snow
riot. A eolOred man nam d Caruthers and Mrs.
Hall kept school on street, l4t n and after
them came the father Of JnO. r. COOK the col
leetOr. ChaS. Middleton. now a messenger In the
between 2lst and I'D streets. jim Fleet
had school on New York avenue, between I4th
and 18th: Wm- Lee, on the square bounded by i.
h. 18th and. 18th streets: EuOch Ambush, on
street, between 9tn and 10th, south Washington
and later Jos. Ambush had a school adjoining AS
bury church
before the war" continued MIR. shorter. "They
were mostly string bands, whose patronage was
mad one In which jim Wormley. Phil Clark, DICK
Gray AID jim Tree played. Then Kendall had a
Oahl, IN winch fepsicO, waiter Lancaster and H.
Neal were engaged
.'The num6rr OF slaves continued Mr. shorter.
-was not over third OF the colored population
but when weil-behayed and living In respect able
families they were much thought OF as the
Others- OF course there were some black sheep
but as rule the larger portion were well
behaved"
AN OLD ABoLrrIoSIsr.
An old abolltionlst and native OF the District
said 70 q STAR reporter: 1.-THE law which required
that all colord persons found on the streets after
10 O'Clock without pass or permit be arrested
had the effect Of preventing disorderly gather
inga There were some slaves who seemed 10
think that their masters name was aIl-powerfuL
and because they belonged 10 q gentleman with a
title they could do as they pleased. II there was
any disorder II generally originated with some
such slave"
"Do you remember any slave sales here?- asked
the reporter.
yes a few he replied: "but comparatively
few slaves Ia the District were sold, ana, gener-
ally, those sold south were those who had become
attempting 70 manage them There was one case
however. which excited my sympathy, and it was
Tie only case that knew OF where the slave WAS
sent south 10 prevent family scandal The SUBJ
Ject was very handsome girl. nearly white,
raised not far from here. After the death OF her
louisiana After she had been sold she pleaded
Thai her new owner should purchase her child.
he offered 800 for II without success. and the
hlOthe- and child were parted. There has
been mucn talk OF an auction block
and Of companies OF slaves here In
ehGns i never knew OF an auction block here
and The diving Of slaves through the streets was
ayery uncommon sight after Is23. The fact Is
lhat there has been much gush about slavery In
lne OlstrcI IL was not accompanied by cruel