The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-01-16
THE EARLY FIGHT
AGAINST SLAVERY
German Quakers Held Protest
Meeting IN 1858.
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT


elton Hig Feature Of 1915 Activities.
At meeting composed Of German
Quakers, called Friends, held In April,
1883, formal protest against slavery
In the American colonies was adopted.
This was the beginning Of the aboli-
ton. movement which never died out,
but gradually spread with the growing
colonies and which spread over the
country when the states were formed
and the government established. As
the population grew and the number
Of slaves increased the spirit of opposi-
tton to human slavery increased until
the freeing Of the slave or the, dissolv-
ing Of the Union to perpetuate slavery
became inevitable. And thus the great
civil war came. Fl
Il became evident that nation with
human slavery as its cornerstone could
not stand. The first dawn Of freedom
appeared over the horizon In 1862, and
the full sun Of emancipation burst
forth when the friends Of human slav-
cry gave up the conflict In 1866. The
work Of making new man, new
American citizen, then began with the
reconstruction Of the government.
When the slaves found themselves free
men and women they soon began to
hold emancipation celebrations. which
have grown into county and state fairs
and expositions.
A brief study Of the work before the
Virginia Negro Historical and Indus
trial association under the lead Of the
Hon. Giles B. jackson, which is begin
ming its arrangements for the great
celebration Of fifty years of, freedom
and exposition to take place at Rich
mond next summer, brings US to
relation Of the history Of the emancipa-
ton Of the slaves In the United States.
After the election Of Abraham Lincoln
to the presidency In 1880 1t was early
decided that slavery was disgrace
to our country and dark blot on our
escutcheon in the eyes Of Christian
and civilized nations, so by an act Of
congress the slaves In the District Of
Columbia were freed on the 10th of
April. 1862.
This was the real entering wedge and
paved the way for general emancipa
ton. On Sept. %, 1862, President Lin
coin issued general proclamation Of
emancipation to take effect on Jan. l,
1868. This brought about the thir-
teenth amendment to the constitution
on Dec. IA. 1888. On Jan. IS. 1864,
Congressman Ashley Of Ohio offered
an amendment to the constitution pro-
hibiting slavery In the United States
and its territories. The, late Senator
John B. Henderson Of Missouri offer
ed an amendment for the complete
abolition Of slavery and a vote was
had in the senate on June 10, 1884. but
failed because 1t did not receive the
necessary two-thirds vote.
This forced the question into the
presidential campaign Of 1884 and the
cause of abolition won at the polls. A
vote was again taken on the Hender-
son amendment on Jan. 81, 1885. and
the amendment was agreed to and was
submitted to the states for ratification
or rejection. and twenty seven states.
which were two-thirds. ratified It. and
1t became q part OF the federal constl-
tuition. The second amendment had
been issued on Jan. I. 1853. After the
states had acted congress. on Dec. IL,
1855. adopted the amendment and slav-
cry died forever In the United States
20 far as congressional enactment was
concerned. '.
The closing Of the civil war also seal
cd the fate Of human slavery In the
United States. The former master and
the former slave were now confronted
with new problems. Neither for
time knew his exact status or just
what to do. They finally agreed that
they should live on together under their
new conditions and rebuild the waste
places Of the southland and make 1t
once more blossom like the rose. That
work since then has been going on.
The new freedmen have made wonder
fuI progress In ffty years along all
lines. and because Of this progress yir-
ginia's colored population will hold
great exposition at Richmond during
July and August, 1915.