The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26


The colored people in Washington have
just been celebrating the anniversary of
the emancipation Of slaves In the District
of Columbia. 1t is a fact forgotten by
most persons that slavery existed in Wash
ington for a year after the civil war began.
An old-time slave market stood near
dilapidated market house which was torn
down by Boss Shepherd to make room
for the fine central market house that
now adorns the city. It Is not known that
slaves We're bought and sold in Washing
ton after the war began. but they might
have been legally. Emancipation in the
District Of Columbia was compensated,
every slave that was emancipated being
paid for by the government. This was
President Lncoln's original plan for get
ting rid Of slavery in all the States, but he
progressed with the people, and finally pro-
claimed absolute emancipation as a war
measure. AS early as March, 1862, less
than a year after the war began. President
Lincoln, in a special message to Congress,
recommended the passage Of Joint resolu-
ton declaring that "the United States
ought to cooperate with any State which
may adopt gradual adjustment of slavery,
giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be
used by such State in it's discretion, to
compensate for the Inconvenience. public
and private, produced by such change of
system" At that time Mr.. Lincoln thought
that the people of the seeded States
might be willing to accept the abolition of
slavery and recognize the authority of the
government, If they were assured of COM
pensation for their slaves. In short. he
thought 1t worth trying as a means of end
ing the war. In his message he pointed out
that the cost of the war In a short time
would more than pay for all the slaves
The joint resolution passed Congress and
was approved by the President, but it had
no effect.
On the 18th of December, 1861. Senator
Wilson. of Massachusetts,. lifelong anti
slavery man. introduced in the Senate a
bill for the immediate emancipation Of the
slaves in the District of Columbia; for the
payment to their loyal owners of an aver
age sum of $500 for each slave; for the ap-
pointment of commission to assess the
sum to be paid, and the appropriation of
100000 to carry the bill into effect. After
some discussion and delay the bill finally
passed both houses and was approved by
the President April 16, 1862 1t is curious
fact that after the war had been in progress
for year so prominent an anti
slavery leader as Henry Wilson
was not yet prepared to assert
the right of Congress TO abolish
slavery In the District of Columbia, ex-
cept by compensated emancipation. Grad
ual and compensated emancipation was one
horred slavery and desired to see its final
abolition. not by agitation or violence. but
by legal and peaceful methods. He may
have thought that the example of COM
pensated emancipation in the District of
Columbia would yet commend itself to the
seeded States. Possibly 1t might have
done so II the Union army had gained
great successes during the summer OF 1862.
but IL did not. and after the battle OF An
tetam Mr.. Lincoln consented to strike a
blow at the very existence of the rebellion
by proclaiming the emancipation OF all the
slaves In the insurrectionary States.
AS President OF the United States ne could
not lawfully set free a single slave. but
as commander-in-chief of the army he
gould set free millions with word. The