Slavery and Abolition and the United States
Abraham Lincoln
I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas
at a time before the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Decision.
Blacks and whites were segregated from each
other. Whites went to better schools
with better equipment, they could ride anywhere on a bus except for the back,
where Blacks were expected to sit.
At the Greyhound Bus
Station there were separate waiting rooms, and separate rest rooms and separate
drinking fountains.
In our neighborhood,
which was lower middle class in the oil refining city of Port Arthur, Black women were maids in homes
of Whites, and Black men had mostly day labor jobs. They lived in small rental houses in the
alleys.
During World War II
many, many of these Blacks left Port Arthur for Detroit and other
northern cities, and got jobs in the Defense industry that paid them more. Many of them never returned.
We still had a few
old codgers who had fought on the side of the Confederacy in the Civil War, and
our families were deeply immersed in the southern culture. Even though World War II had taken most young
men into the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, and we had rationing and air
raid drills and air raid wardens, people still referred to the Civil War as
“The War”.
White people still
talked about the terrible days after the South was defeated, and the surrender
at Appomattox Court House, and most of all, Reconstruction.
Blacks had expected that the end of slavery
would mean new opportunities and a whole new life for them, but here, 80 years
later, they were still segregated, still had few opportunities.
Changing the culture
of a region, or a nation, is really hard.
It takes time, but it also takes a good bit of nudging, like Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation, and the 1954 schools desegregation decision.
One thing that bothers me is when people
criticize George Washington or Thomas Jefferson because they kept slaves.
Even Abraham Lincoln, as President, was
primarily motivated by his strong desire to Save the Union,
not emancipation. He was no hot-blooded
Abolitionist!
Certainly slavery
was exploitation of one race by another, but even up until a few decades ago,
the whole concept of races and ethnicity was entirely different.
I think one needs to
look at the context before we pass judgment—what was the world like all around
them? How did it all fit together?
I hope we are
getting it right today, so that some day no American will judge other Americans
by the color of their skin, or their religion or lack thereof, or whether they
are hetero- or homosexual.
I hope you
will enjoy some of the items in this collection:
Eneas Africanus and Eneas Africanus, Defendant
Eneas Africanus by Edwards, Harry Stillwell 1928 Macon, GA: J.W. Burke Company. This is the
wistful story of an old Black Slave, sent by his master with family treasures
as Union troops were closing in. The Slave, Eneas, went on a long journey, but
finally reunited with his old master eight years later, in 1872. "O, Lord! Marse George! Glory be ter God! Out o' de
wilderness! De projekin son am back ergin!" Modern readers, especially those not from the
old South, may read ill will into this story, but it is the story of the mutual
admiration and attachment that existed in the South before the Civil War, and
persisted long after. 47 pp. 12.4 x 17.2 cm. Red cloth spine with
marble paper on board, corners worn, owner inscription, "W.F. Wittenburg" on half title page. Very good. (8209) $15.00.
Civil War/Slavery
Eneas Africanus,
Defendant by Edwards, Harry Stillwell 1924
Macon, GA: J.W. Burke Company. Sequel to the story of an old Black Slave, set
loose with master's family treasures in 1864, who returned in 1872 and found
himself as the Defendant in a Church
Court, accused of violating the Sabbath. Eneas has
read the Bible, and uses it in his trial: "Moses
had de Hebrew chillun wid him an' I had mine, but I got home, bless God, an'
Moses give out on de road." Modern readers, especially those not from
the old South, may read ill will into this story, but it is the story of the
mutual admiration and attachment that existed in the South before the Civil
War, and persisted long after. 41 pp. 12.4 x 17.2 cm. Blue cloth spine with
brown textured paper on board, very good. (8210) $15.00 Civil War/Slavery
Two
Confederate Naval Officers
Aboard CSS
Alabama, 1863
Alabama: National and Private
"Alabama Claims", The; and their
"Final and Amicable Settlement" by Beaman, Charles C.,
Jr. 1871 Washington City, DC: Office of the Librarian of
Congress. At the start of the American Rebellion in 1861 the Confederate
government found that in naval strength it was vastly outnumbered by the United
States Navy, and it would be necessary to interdict Union commerce. England and
English shipbuilders were very cooperative with the Confederacy, and allowed
construction of Confederate gunboats that were very effective in attacking
American shipping worldwide. On May 15th, 1862 CSS Alabama, known as "Gunboat 290" was launched at Birkenhead, Liverpool. Page 351 contains a list of the some 67
ships, barks, schooners and brigs destroyed by Alabama,
and subsequent pages list ships destroyed by CSS
Florida, Georgia,
Shenandoah, Nashville, Olustee, Sumter, Tallahassee and others. This book is a
collection of diplomatic correspondence, military correspondence and historical
records relating to the matter of Great Britain's questionable acts
of neutrality vis-à-vis the Confederate States, and of the negotiations to
settle claims after hostilities ended. 358 pp. 14 x 23 cm. Paper on
board with cloth spine, cover stained and soiled, fair. (4635) $85.00. History/Civil War
Boston Evening Transcript, Thursday Evening,
January 17, 1861 Boston, MA:
Henry W. Dutton & Son. Filled with Civil War news. Telegraph dispatch
reports that Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis is urging moderation, and
vouches for Major Anderson, now commanding Fort Sumter,
in Charleston (SC) Harbor. President
Buchanan is very anxious to avoid bloodshed as messages and messengers fly back
and forth. The President,
it is reported, will be willing to recognize a de facto government embracing
three or more states. "The
Secession Theory of Debt" is
indignant editorial about South Carolinians
who have passed a bill in their House to stay the collection of debts by
Carolinians to men in non-slaveholding states. "A non-slaveholder may be,
purely in consequence of his lack of 'ni*gers,' a very contemptible creature, unworthy
of a Southern gentleman's notice..." Major Robert Anderson, a
56-year-old Kentuckian who commands the Union forces at Fort Sumter,
is much in the news. Discussion
of selections for President-elect Lincoln's cabinet. Ban on "ardent spirits" in Massachusetts State House.
Editorial questions whether this is enthusiasts, fanatics or liquors. Poem on page one ridicules idea of South Carolinians leaning toward monarchy. Discussion on
Slavery reports from recent sermon by Dr. Leonard Bacon in New Haven. Discussion of necessity and
feasibility of constructing a Cape Cod Canal, to connect the waters of Barnstable Bay and Buzzard's Bay. Humor about "The Star of the West",
the Union ship fired upon by southerners at Charleston. Lincoln
to be escorted to Washington
by the Illinois Zouaves. 4 pp. 49 x 68 cm. Newspaper, tears in some folds, 5 cm
closed tear in pp. 1-2, poor. (7406) $26.00. Civil War/Newspapers
Boston Daily Advertiser, Wednesday Morning,
October 12, 1864, Vol. 104 No. 87 Boston, MA: Boston Daily Advertiser. Civil War era
newspaper: Panic in Richmond,
special despatch by the American Telegraph Company's Lines. State elections:
Great Republican Victory in Pennsylvania.
Report from St. Louis, MO
on rebel movements, crossing the Osage River
with 20,000 men, 16 to 25 cannon, and a long train of wagons. News from Grant's
Army of the Potomac: Enemy opened fire towards
the Second Corps.
Capt.
Daniel Foster of the United
States 37th colored regiment was killed in
the attack on Chapin's Bluff, VA. Capt Foster was formerly chaplain of the Mass. 22nd Rgt. He
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1841 and for several years was a Unitarian
missionary in Kansas. The Massachusetts 54th Regiment, colored troops,
has been paid off by the government in full to August 31st. The soldiers have
sent back to their families and friends in this city and vicinity the sum of
$45,000. Willard Cheney, Jr. of Worcester has
been commissioned a second lieutenant of the 2nd U.S.
colored infantry, now stationed at Key
West, Fla. 4 pp. 54 x
76 cm. Newspaper, edges frayed, good. (5979) $32.00. Civil War/History
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Cincinnati, Ohio,
Thursday morning, December 10, 1863 Cincinnati, OH: The Daily
Gazette. In the middle of
the Civil War this "Western" paper gives Status of the Rebel
States: "How did the
district held by the rebels become foreign territory in the eyes of the
law?" This issuer
features "The President's
Message" in which
Abraham Lincoln reports to Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives that Foreign Neutrality has been preserved, our blockade of
Southern ports has been observed and respected, our Slave Trade Treaty with
Great Britain has been ratified and carried into execution. Report also
includes operations of the Treasury , and report of the Secretary of the Navy.
The Secretary of the Navy reports acquisition of armored vessels, increase in
seamen from 7000 in 1861 to 24,000 now, the Naval Academy (now located in
Newport, RI) is rendering signal service in preparing midshipmen for their
highly responsible duties; also detailed plans for Reconstruction, upon
cessation of the war. Separate report from the Secretary of the Navy
summarizes 36 page report, including action of blockade over 3549 miles,
employing more than 100 vessels. the Navy at present date includes 588 vessels
with 4,443 guns. Since December 1862 the Navy has lost or had captured 12
vessels, another 35 destroyed in order to prevent their falling into the hands
of the enemy, sunk in battle or
by torpedoes, 4, shipwreck 5 and collision 13. Secretary also reports on
the development of the Monitors by Capt. John Ericsson. In"Latest by
Telegraph" report from Washington reports that
the President's Message has
been favorably received, but radical wing of the Administration has become more
cautious in praise. "The
pivotal point of the whole Message is the idea that absolute complete emancipation
will at length be the basis of reconstruction." 4 pp. 60 x 70 cm. Newspaper, numerous
holes in folds in front page, poor. (7803) $40.00. Civil War/Newspapers
New-York Tribune, New-York, Tuesday, January 24, 1860 New York, NY: The New-York
Tribune. Report from 36th Congress: Remarks of Senator Douglas regarding
communication of Governor of Virginia to President Buchanan, that there was a plan
on foot to rescue John Brown; President replied that he was at a loss to find
any provision in the Constitution or the laws of the United States to authorize
him to take any steps to
preserve the peace between the states. "The
Irrepressible Folly: General Panic in the South; People Afraid of Newspapers;
Banishment and Hanging in Fashion." Commentary on Senator Douglas,
discussing passing a bill to prevent one state from invading another. Douglas
proposes to make it a criminal offense to make any more Free
States after the manner of Kansas.
Douglas says he wants no Slave code. and this
has brought him the ill will of the South. Editorial support for Senator Cassius
M. Clay of Kentucky;
Clay has earned acclaim in Congress, in commercial and doughface circles at the
North, at John Brown meetings. "Republicanism
in Kentucky--Speech of Cassius M. Clay" From the Cincinnati Gazette. Clay discusses the
Radical Abolitionists; Hang-Dog Testimony..."we now and always have
regarded the poor African as of an inferior race, and although we do not
pretend to divine the inscrutable designs of the Deity..." 8 pp. 44 x 56 cm. Newspaper, unopened,
good. (7809) $26.00. Civil War/History
Manchester Daily Union, Manchester, N.H. Tuesday,
May 16, 1865 Manchester, NH: Campbell &
Hanscom. By telegraph from Washington:
The assassination trial is open to reporters of newspapers. It is supposed that
Jeff Davis will be brought to Washington
and tried for murder. The Negro Problem in Kentucky is one of great practical moment.
Negroes are leaving their homes by the thousands and are crowding into the
towns, demoralizing and being demoralized.... the plantations are without
labor, and crops cannot be grown. Uncertainty and confusion take the place of
order, and poverty and disease must follow upon idleness and dissipation.
Negro Suffrage--the Abolitionists, not content with negro freedom, are
clamorous for negro suffrage. Continued account of Assassination Trial...Mr.
Lloyd, who kept a hotel at Surrattville, testified that several weeks before
the assassination Booth and his accomplices came to his house, and brought two
carbines and a rope... Testimony of Mrs. Surratt... Booth and Harold came to
the hotel soon after midnight; Booth said, "I
will tell you some news; I am pretty certain we have assassinated the President
and Secretary Seward." Commentary
on Mission of
the Democratic Party. Adv. New Dress Goods; Mourning Goods; Carpeting and
Housekeeping Goods at Barton & Co., East Side
Elm Street.
4 pp. 32 x 47 cm. Newspaper, some perforations in spinefold, good. (8030)
$25.00. Civil War/History
Manchester Daily Union, Manchester, N.H.
Wednesday, May 17, 1865 Manchester, NH: Campbell &
Hanscom. By telegraph from Washington:
Assassination Trials. Members of the Military Commission met in Ford's Theatre
this morning to view the premises. The military and civil authorities in Washington are still at
variance. Report that the President has under consideration a new amnesty
proclamation which will announce what classes of rebels are to be held for
treason. John M. Buckingham, doorkeeper at Ford's theatre said Booth came in
about 10 o'clock .. he then walked up the stairway leading to the dress circle,
and that was the last time I saw him until he jumped upon the stage... James P.
Ferguson: "About ten I
saw Booth pass the open door leading to the boxes. I did not see him any more
till he fired his pistol and jumped to the stage..." More
detailed testimony of trial. Wm. A. Browning, secretary to Pres. Johnson,
testified that he went to Kirkwood House between 4 and 5 in the afternoon
of the murder and saw in Mr. Johnson's box a card written by John Wilkes
Booth. 4 pp. 32 x 47 cm. Newspaper, some perforations in spinefold, good.
(8031) $25.00. Civil War/History
La Guerre D'Amérique: Récit d'un Soldat du
Sud [in French] (The American {Civil} War: Narrative of a Southern Soldier);
Tome Premier [Volume One ONLY] par Fontane, Marius ca.
1866 Paris, France: Adrien Le Clere ET Ce, Éditeurs, Rue Cassette, 29. Volume
One of a two volume set. Small foldout map ( "Carte
du Théâtre de la Guerre d'Amérique") at rear of first volume.
Narrative by Marius Fontane (1838-1914). Entrée de Charleston.
L'exploitation des forêts de la Caroline du Sud. Toinot le planteur. Les case des
nègres. Premier coup de fusil (6 avril 1861). Jefferson Davis, président des
États confédérés. L'arsenal de Norfolk (6 mars 1862). Marche des Nordistes vers Richmond. 304 pp. + map. 11.5 x 17 cm. Quarter
leather with marbled paper boards; covered with plastic film. Fold-out map has small tears in folds.
Good. (1735) $75.00. Civil War/History
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