Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-03
PONDS EXTRACT COMPANY, 76 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK

for them on sailing vessels. At present 1t
makes arrangements for the purpose with
an English steamship company that runs
steamers from Liverpool to the west coast
of Africa. The agent of the company in
New York sells tickets to Monrovia via
Liverpool This is rather roundabout
way of getting there, the journey being
about twice the distance necessary. The
society gives passage money or other help
to eligible colonists. Its funds are derived
mainly from legacies. the most important
of which vas 100000. given by a Balti-
more ex-slave dealer. During the last year
affairs in Liberia have been made more
interesting by war with the Grebos
native tribe living within the boundaries
of the republic, which has been obstreper-
Gus for a long time, and has refused to
recognize the authority of the government.
A gunboat, recently acquired by the gov
eminent, and a military force sent against
them have changed their attitude some
what.
I The act of Congress of April. 1862 setting
free all negroes held in bondage in the Dis
trict of Columbia. appropriated $1,0OO,OOO to
pay to owners for their slaves. a COM
mission was appointed to arrange the COM
pensation suitably. The money provided
was so far insufficient that only about $500
each was paid for able-bodied negroes worth
81 900. to $500. The smallest sum given for
any slave was $3.50. for a male infant.
Some of the slaves were too old and feeble
to be adiudged of airy value. Some of the
whom received s., 16S for ten slaves. and
another 1892 for two slaves In making
the appraisement much assistance was OBJ
tanned from Baltimore slave dealer named
Campbell. His last resort, when puzzled
as to the age OF negro. was to examine
the teeth. One aged darkey could not give
any idea Of his age beyond the statement
that during Gen. Washingtons war he
could catch horse and feed him."
Customs That Used to Hold.
The supplementary act of July, 1852,
which practically declared that all colored
people who set foot in the District of
Columbia were free. brought hordes of
negro refugees from Virginia and Maryland
to Washington. nest of them without means
of support Mr.. Edward Ingle. to whom the
writer is indebted for much of his informa
ton, says that careful reading of the
debates in Congress of that period shows
extremists on both sides. If such a thing
had been possible some of them would have
passed a law changing the color of the
negros skin to white. while others would
have leen willing TO enact a law changing
to black the complexion of the special ad
vocateS of the colOred man.
In July. 1888, Joseph jefferson, father
of the present Rip Van Wrinkle, was a
lessee of the Washington Theater. He adj
dressed an appeal to the city fathers ask
ing relief from the present law which
authorizes constables to arrest colored
people on the streets without pass after
Z. m. This regulation, he stated, deprived
the theater of an important part of its
patronage. occasioning a loss of so nightly.
In 1869 a municipal act was passed pro-
hibitipg distinction on account of color in
places of public amusement, hotels, &c.
Four years earlier the negroes obtained the
right to ride on the same street cars with
the whites. If" says Mr.. 1ngle. there
is disorder on the late cars, particularly
Saturday nights. it is not so much due to
the color of the occupants as to bad whisky,
which makes no discrimination in It's eff
fects on account of race. color, or previous
condition of servitude."
Early in the years of emancipation Con-
gress took steps to correct certain defects
in the moral code which had been bequeath-
ed by slavery. The act of July, 1866. pro-
vided that all negroes of the District of
Columbia who previous to 1852 had been
living together as husband and wife should
be recognized as such In law. Further
more the children born to those couples
were declared legitimate.
RENE BACHE.