Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S JUBILEE DAY.


ABRAHAM LiNCOLN'S JUBILEE DAY.
When Abraham Lincoln issued his
emancipation proclamation on the 18th
day of January. 1863. he had not the re-
hottest idea that by appending his name
to that immortal document he had
struck the shackles from the limbs of
100000 of slaves. 1t is within the
memory of men who attended the prcsi-
dents levee on that historic New Years
day that the proclamation had fallen
fiat ut the national capital and was gen
orally regarded like the pope's bull
against the comet.
Abraham Lincoln's plan for enamel
patton was embodied in his message to
congress-, delivered just one month pre-
viOus. On December l, 1863, President
Lincoln, in his message to congress, sub
mitted a plan for gradual, compensated
emancipation, which we reprint else
where in this issue and to which we in
wife attention. In that message he rec
commended the submission of constitu-
tional amendments which were to con
tain the following provisions:
l.. Every state where slavery now eX-
lists which shall abolish the same at any
time before the list day of January,
1900, shall receive compensation for the
e~mancipated slaves from the United
States.
.. All slaves who shall have enjoyed
actual freedom by the chances of war at
any time before the end of the rebellion
shall be forever free, but their Owner
on proof of loyalty, are to be compen-
stated.
3. Congress may appropriate money
and otherwise provide for %colonizinG
free cOlored persons with their own
! consent ut any place or places without
the United States.
Tcrsely defined, the constitutional
amendments proposed by Abraham
Lincoln contemplated gradual enamel
patton, by which the last slave was to
have been made free on New Years
day, 1900, and deportation or voluntary
cXpatriation of the freedmen and their
! colonization in some tropical country or
| countries that would be found CON
genial to the black race.
In support of this plan Mr.. Lincoln
| argued that gradual emancipation
would save both races from the evils Of
sudden arrangement. While those
who felt that gradual emancipation
would give too little to the slaves then
living, Mr.. Lincoln said it would really
give them much: 1T would save them
from the vagrant restitution which must
largely attend immediate emancipation
in localities where their numbers are
very great and it gives the inspiring as
| surance that their pOsterity shall be
free forever"
In defending the proposition to repay
the Slavc-owners for the freedmen, Lin
coin pointed to the historic fact that
"thc people of the south were not more
responsible for the original introduction
of slavery than the people of the north
and when the people of the north I'M
hesitatingly use cotton and sugar and
share in the profits of dealing IN the
products of slave labor it may not be
quite safe to say that the south has been
more responsible than the north for the
continuance of slavery
The argument advanced in favor Of
voluntary deportation is equally logical
and forcible. Mr.. Lincoln says: II
cannot make it better known than it
already is that | strongly favor colonial
ton, and yet | wish TO say there is an
objection raised against free colored
persons remaining in the country which
malicious. 1t is insisted that their
| presence would injure and displace
white labor and white lahorers.
If there ever be n proper time
for merely catch arguments that time
surely is not now. In times like the
present men should utter nothing for
which they would not willingly be re
sponsible through time and eternity
In concluding his earnest plea for his
plan of gradual emancipation President
Lincoln said: II do not forget the
gravity which should characterize a
paper addressed to the congress of the
nation by the chief magistrate of the
nation, nor do | forget that some of you
are my seniors, nor that many of you
have more experience than 1 in the con
duct of public affairs, yet | trust that In
view e the great responsibility resting
! upon me you Will perceive no wan Of