Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-08

apprehended and dreaded by the democracy
as direful scourge, coquetted with, yet
feared by northern wings, and even by
republicans. The opening words of Mr..
Sumner in his noble speech on the emanci-
patton bill, will convey to the reader a bet
ter notion of the Importance which had
times than anything l could say. He be-
gins:
Mr.. President-With unspeakable de-
light hail this measure and the prospect
of its speedy adoption. II Is the first in
stallment of that great debt which we all
owe to an enslaved race. and will be recog-
nized In history as one Of the victories CT
humanity. At home throughout our own
country 1t will be welcomed with gratitude,
while abroad 1t will quicken the hopes Of
all who love freedom. Liberal institutions
will gain everywhere by the abolition CT
slavery at the national capital Nobody
can read that slaves were once sold in the
markets of Rome, beneath the eyes of the
sovereign pontiff, without confessing the
scandal to religion. even in barbarous
age; and nobody can hear that slaves are
now sold in the markets of Washington,
beneath the eyes of the President without
confessing the scandal to liberal institu-
lions. For the sake of our good name, If
not for the sake of justice. let the scandal
disappear
Passage of the Bill.
when this great measure was adopted
1t was amid the stirring events of the
civil war; the nation was In arms; the
capital was beleaguered; and great social
and political revolution was in progress
At such moment mere local event SEEM
ed to lose the high moral significance
which it would have had in peaceful times
and 1t passed OF with slight regard by tho
country and the world. 1t Is, neverthe-
less, a memorable, as well as unique event,
the incidents of which are worthy of pres
er7ation. The measure originated in and
was perfected i'll the Senate. On the 10th
of December, 1861, Mr.. Wilson Of Massa-
chusetts introduced in that body bill for
the abolition OF slavery in the District of
Columbia. April the bill passed by a
vote Of 20 to II.
"All the republicans, except Messrs. VIII
ley and Carlisle Of West Virginia Hender-
son of Missouri and Wright of Indiana
voted in the affirmative, and all the demo-
Gratis in the negative. The debate in the
Senate on this measure, where 1t orgi
mated. was protracted. The debate in the
House on the bill lasted only two days,
when 1t was adopted without amendment
Friday, April H. as it came from the SEN
ate; and on the following Wednesday, April
16. 1862, 1t was signed by the President.
I'm pursuance of the third section of the
act of April 16, President Lincoln appoint
ed the Hon. Samuel +. Vinton, a distin-
guished and venerable ex-member of the
House of Representa- tives from Ohio; Hon.
Horatio King for many years first assist
ant, and at length, near the close of Mr..
Buchanan's administration, Postmaster
General, and myself, commissioners. / had
the honor of being first named on the list,
and, according to usage, was entitled to
the craftsmanship, but in Difference to the
age and eminent public service Of Mr.. Vim
ton, I waived my right in his favor and
doubt not that no died in the belief that
he was the rightful chairman.
The Commission Organized.
He survived only a few days the or
ganization of the commission. but in that
IL. L.
attachments were of great service in pre-
pairing the forms and rules of proceeding
under the act. 1 find by reference to the
minutes, kept by the clerk, that our first
meeting was on Monday, April 2S that we
met every day during the week except
Saturday, and that Mr.. Vinton appeared
for the last time on the following Monday.
He was taken suddenly i'll of erysipelas
and died on Sunday, May IL. The vacancy
created by his death was filled by the ap-
pointment of DR.. John M. Brodhead, prior
thereto, as well as subsequently, second
controller of the treasury. He entered up
on the duties of his office June 16. But in
the meantime Mr.. King and myself had
made some progress in the work before
us.
''While Mr.. vinton yet lived we had been
very fortunate In procuring the services
of VIM. r. Woodward, esq, member
of the Washington bar, clerk, who pro-
cured and opened a docket and kept min
uteS or every Gays proceedings. We also
employed a messenger Henry Olive and
the marshal Of the District assigned us a
deputy, Joseph F. Kelley, to execute pro-
cess. We purchased an iron safe, in which
to preserve our records and papers, some
chairs for the commissioners and clerk
and opened court in the city hall, after adj
vertisement in the daily newspapers, in
yiting the attendance of claimants. My
colleagues were northern men, with little
practical knowledge Of slaves and slavery,
and had resided long enough In the city
to have lost such knowledge Of the sub