Yesterday was 16 April 2015, the 153rd anniversary of the emancipation
of the slaves in the District of Columbia. In DC, we celebrate this Holiday as
a District Holiday, not because of the freeing of all slaves but because of the
signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act freeing 3100 slaves, which President
Abraham Lincoln signed on April 16, 1862. In September he signed the
Emancipation Proclamation that went into effect on 1 January 1863 and broadened
the scope of the Civil war to include freeing the slaves as well as preserving
the Union. Slavery continued to be legal until 18 December 1865, when the 13th
Amendment went into effect. On Monday I had the honor to participate in the
ceremony at the 15th Street Presbyterian Church to commemorate and
remember the events that led up to this day so long ago. It was the first of
many historical events this week.
Tuesday was the sesquicentennial of the assassination of
President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. I watched online because I hadn't been
able to secure a ticket to the event. As I watched the subsequent candlelight
vigil on the street outside, I thought to myself, ” Why not go down for the
announcement of his death? “ So I did.
The announcement was to be at 7:22 am on 10th St
NW in front of the Peterson House where Lincoln died. I got up about 6:30 and
caught the green line to Gallery Place and exited the 9th
Street/Gallery exit. I came out on G and 9th. I had only 1 short
block to walk past St Patrick’s church and 2 blocks south to the action. There
was a period brass band playing songs Lincoln would have recognized and a huge
gathering waiting for news. Some were in period dress and some were dressed as
I was, casually just out of bed. Others were obviously on the way to work. Next
door to the Peterson House Douglass Jamal Construction was tearing down a
building. We know what that is like here in SW. Clank, Clang, scrape and dump….
Precisely at 7:22 a man came through the front door of the
Peterson Boarding House and introduced himself as Secretary Stanton and said, “The
President has breathed his last” and the gasp that went through the crowd might
have been like that very day 150 years ago. Then he went on to say the
President had been comforted at the end to rest his hand on the Emancipation
Proclamation assuring himself he had accomplished something worthwhile in his
life.
Next a lovely ballad was sung for the President all the
while the construction noise continued. You’d think they could have stopped the
construction for the ceremony. It only happens every 150 years. Several
tributes were read about Mr. Lincoln and several songs played by the band. My
favorite song was the Battle Hymn of the Republic and my favorite tribute was “O
Captain, My Captain!” written in 1865 by Walt Whitman. As it was read bagpipes
could be heard in the distance playing Amazing Grace. At some point the
construction noise did cease, thank God.
At the end of the ceremony, Bagpipers of the Scottish
regiment appeared and piped Amazing Grace in earnest as a wreath was laid on
the steps of the Peterson Boarding House. The Sailors of the SS Abraham Lincoln
had come to provide the honor guard for the ceremony and the pipers piped them
off the field and back into Ford Theater.
Soon after, the bells around the city began to toll to
announce the sad news. To have been there, on the same street as people 150
years ago was strangely touching. I felt a tie though the ages binding me to
them both with sadness and also with hope because ours was mixed crowd. We were
there for the love of a man who had changed the world. "Lincoln belongs to
the ages,” said Secretary Stanton. And also lives on in the "angels in our
hearts" in Lincoln’s own words.
Lincoln sesquicentennial events will soon move to the
southwest quadrant of DC. The trial of the coconspirators and their hangings
took place at Fort McNair. No doubt, the courtroom will be open for tours and
they may have a re-enactment of the trial. More information about the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s
death can be found at www.Fords.org
