Peirspictiochtai
The full title of this column is Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol, which is Gaelic for Perspectives on Life, written by Richard McDonough. It will show up on Wednesdays, but the first one is coming on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.
Democracy Is at Stake
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 15 July 2024 15 July 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Democracy Is At Stake
(The photograph was produced by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert Price and provided courtesy of the United States Navy, June 4, 2017.)
News media reports have been repeating a mantra that our democracy is threatened. That American democracy is at stake. That we have never faced such a situation.
Consider the following items from newspapers during the past century-and-a-half plus:
On July 2, 1856, the Cleveland Weekly Plain Dealer included a news article quoting from a speech given by Senator Stephen Douglas: "You all know that I am not indifferent in any contest where the success of the Democracy is at stake..."
Juneteenth Statements Part Five
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 23 June 2024 23 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Juneteenth
Statements
Part Five
Vice President Kamala Harris (The photograph was provided courtesy of The White House.)
During the past few days, Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol detailed aspects of the history of emancipation of slaves in the United States of America. This edition of the five-part news series includes statements from our leaders and leading institutions in the United States of America regarding Juneteenth.
Recall that Juneteenth was not the first celebration of emancipation by freed slaves in the United States of America. African Americans who were emancipated by an act of the United States Congress held celebrations in the District of Columbia in 1862. This was more than three years prior to Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Emancipation Celebrations Part Four
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 22 June 2024 22 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Juneteenth
Emancipation Celebrations
Part Four
The scene in the U S House of Representatives on the passage of the proposition to amend the Constitution, according to the Library of Congress, on January 31, 1865. (The illustration was in Harper's Weekly and was provided courtesy of the Library of Congress, February 18, 1865.)
Slavery had been part of the United States of America from the birth of the country. In some cases, slavery was outlawed by official actions of individual states and commonwealths. In some cases, slaves were set free by their owners. In other cases, slaves bought their freedom from their owners.
(Those words may strike some as offensive. The dilemma is that at the time of legal slavery, human beings held in bondage were considered property. As offensive as it may seem, the reality was that human beings could – and did – own other human beings as property.)
Juneteenth Emancipation Celebrations Part Three
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 21 June 2024 21 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Juneteenth
Emancipation Celebrations
Part Three
According to a statement from the Library of Congress, this sketch showed the "Celebration of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia by the colored people, in Washington, April 19, 1866." (The sketch was produced by F. Dielman, published on May 12, 1866, and provided courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
Some enslaved people in the United States of America had been freed from bondage by official actions of individual states and commonwealths prior to the American Civil War. The dates of the official actions as well as for the timing of emancipation varied for the different jurisdictions. In some cases, emancipation was based on the age of the human being held in bondage.
The Federal government also took official action to free enslaved people.
During the American Civil War, the United States Congress passed legislation that freed slaves in the District of Columbia. President Abraham Lincoln signed this legislation – The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act – into law on April 16, 1862.
"It provided for immediate emancipation, compensation to former owners who were loyal to the Union of up to $300 for each freed slave, voluntary colonization of former slaves to locations outside the United States, and payments of up to $100 for each person choosing emigration," according to a statement from The United States National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives). "Over the next nine months, the Board of Commissioners appointed to administer the act approved 930 petitions, completely or in part, from former owners for the freedom of 2,989 former slaves."
Please note that according to a statement from the District of Columbia, 3,100 individuals held as slaves were set free through emancipation. Another report had the total number of persons freed to be closer to 3,200 people.
Please also note that when the law referenced individuals "choosing emigration," the law specifically mentioned emigration to two countries: "the Republics of Hayti [Haiti] or Liberia."
As word spread of their emancipation, newly-freed slaves celebrated in the District.
The Reading Daily Times (using language that reflected the times) reported on April 18, 1862, that the African Americans were celebrating the end of slavery in the District: "Celebration – The colored people of this city, will fire a hundred guns to-day, in honor of the passage and approval of the emancipation bill in the District of Columbia."
On April 23, 1862, the National Republican printed a front-page news article that was entitled "Emancipation In The District." Portions of this news article are as follows:
"The Washington correspondent of the New York Evening Post thus notices the feeling manifested by the colored people of this city on the subject of emancipation:"
"'The colored people have a jubilee to-day (Sunday) – not a set day of rejoicing, but the gathering at the colored churches is the occasion for loud manifestations of delight. Last Sunday [April 20, 1862] it was almost impossible for them to restrain their gratitude and joy. Every colored clergyman prayed about the great event, and every allusion to the subject, whether in prayer or sermon, was sure to bring down a shower of 'amens.' It is now proposed by the colored men, or their principal men in the District, to set apart some day in the week for a grand celebration of the great event [emancipation].'"
On May 2, 1862, the National Republican included a news article entitled "A Thanksgiving Day."
"Yesterday was set apart by various colored churches as a day of Thanksgiving, in view of the passage of the act of emancipation, and there were large gatherings in all of them, both in the day and evening," the newspaper reported. "We never witnessed a more sincere, heartfelt outpouring of humble hearts, in devout gratitude and praise, than was seen yesterday. It was a day of jubilee."
"Talk about the slaves not desiring the rich boom of freedom," the news article continued. "Let all doubters visit the assemblages of our colored people, at any time since the passage of that act, and his scepticism will vanish instanter. A more grateful people does not live on the face of the earth than the manumitted [freed] slaves of this District, at the present time."
These celebrations, organized by African Americans freed from slavery, took place more than three years prior to Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas.
The U S Congress passed an additional piece of legislation regarding emancipation in the District on July 12, 1862.
According to a statement from the National Archives, this supplemental law "…covered another type of claim, allowing slaves whose masters had not filed for compensation to do so."
"An important factor in deciding claims under this Act was that the testimony of both blacks and whites was accepted," the statement from the National Archives continued. "Now, if an owner challenged a slave who petitioned for freedom, the testimony from both was given equal weight, a sharp departure from the previous legal practice in which slaves or freed blacks could not testify against whites."
On April 16, 1863, the Evening Star newspaper in Washington included a note dated April 15, 1863: "Emancipation Celebration. – A demonstration to celebrate the anniversary of the emancipation of the slaves of the District of Columbia will be held at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church exercises commencing at 8 o'clock, on Thursday evening, 16th inst."
"A number of distinguished speakers, white and colored, will be in attendance and will deliver addresses," the note continued. "Admission 15 cents; proceeds of which are for the relief of destitute contrabands."
The next day. the Evening Star included details about "The Emancipation Jubilee Last Night" in its newspaper.
The celebrations in 1863, organized by African Americans freed from slavery, took place more than two years prior to Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas.
Annual celebrations of emancipation continued in the District for a number of years for decades, according to a number of news reports.
Today, each April 16 is celebrated as "Emancipation Day" in the District of Columbia. This date has been an official holiday in the District since 2005.
The next edition of Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol will detail some aspects of emancipation of slaves in the United States of America through the 13th Amendment of the U S Constitution as well as through treaties between the United States of America and Native American nations in what is today Oklahoma.
Major General John Andonie, Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, and the 257th Army Band joined Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, for the 2024 Emancipation Day Parade and concert. (The photograph was produced by Master Sergeant Arthur Wright and provided courtesy of the U S Air National Guard, April 14, 2024.)
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at PeirspictiochtaiArAnSaol@protonmail.com.
© 2024 Richard McDonough
Juneteenth The Emancipation Proclamation Part Two
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 20 June 2024 20 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Juneteenth
The Emancipation Proclamation
Part Two
President Abraham Lincoln. (The photograph was provided courtesy of The White House.)
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
A transcript of the proclamation from The United States National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives) is as follows:
"By the President of the United States of America:"
"A Proclamation."
"Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:"
'That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.'
'That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States.'
"Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:"
"Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued."
"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons."
"And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages."
"And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service."
"And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God."
"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed."
"Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh."
"By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
The National Archives, in a statement, noted that:
"Despite this expansive wording, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the United States, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy (the Southern secessionist states) that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union (United States) military victory."
"Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation, it captured the hearts and imagination of millions of Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war," the statement from the National Archives continued. "After January 1, 1863, every advance of federal troops expanded the domain of freedom. Moreover, the Proclamation announced the acceptance of black men into the Union Army and Navy, enabling the liberated to become liberators. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and freedom."
The next edition of Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol will detail some aspects of emancipation of slaves in the United States of America before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln.
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at PeirspictiochtaiArAnSaol@protonmail.com.
© 2024 Richard McDonough
Juneteenth Part One
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 19 June 2024 19 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Image was provided courtesy of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, 2020.
Today is Juneteenth.
A number of people will celebrate this holiday with family and friends. Americans of all races, ethnicities, and religious faiths, among other aspects of their lives, will take time to remember. Many African Americans will recall the bonds of slavery that some of their ancestors endured in the United States of America.
During the next few days, Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol will detail aspects of the history of emancipation of slaves in the United States of America. This five-part series will detail what the Emancipation Proclamation did and did not do; When one of the first celebrations of emancipation by freed slaves took place; What the 13th Amendment to the U S Constitution did and did not do regarding slavery; When slavery was abolished in the entire country.
Options To Update Immigration Policies Into The United States Of America Part Seven
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 12 June 2024 12 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Options To Update Immigration Policies Into The United States Of America
Part Seven
During the past few weeks, Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol detailed a variety of ways that the United States of America could update the country's policies regarding immigration into this nation.
Examples were provided showing how American land could be leased permanently to another nation; how pregnant women nearing their times of giving birth as well as others needing immediate medical care could be provided with that needed assistance in a humane manner; how babies born to those pregnant women would not attain American citizenship because the babies were never under the jurisdiction of the United States; how people could be transported in vehicles to, from, and within the United States of America without impacting their immigration status or their citizenship because they were not subject to American laws; how people legitimately seeking asylum could be housed in safe areas while their individual cases were reviewed based on a timetable set by the United States; how the country could effectively stop individuals not approved for entry into the United States from ever being under the jurisdiction of the United States; and how the United States could reassert its authority to determine entry by non-citizens into the country.
Options to Update Immigration Policies into the United States Of America Part Six
- Category: Peirspictiochtai Peirspictiochtai
- Published: 05 June 2024 05 June 2024
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Options to Update Immigration Policies into the United States Of America
Part Six
In Part One of a series of news columns detailing options to update policies regarding immigration into the United States Of America, Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol noted that land within the United States of America could potentially be leased permanently to another independent nation.
In Part Two of this series, Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol detailed how certain people are able to be transported in vehicles to, from, and within the United States of America and yet not be subject to American laws.