[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H5387-H5388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF EMANCIPATION OF AFRICAN SLAVES IN 
                             VIRGIN ISLANDS

  Mr. PEASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 495), relating to the recognition of the connection 
between the emancipation of American slaves and the Danish West Indies, 
now the United States Virgin Islands, to the American Declaration of 
Independence from the British government, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and 
I will not object, but I would like to explain the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of House Resolution 495 which 
I have introduced along with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle 
to have the House of Representatives take note of the emancipation of 
enslaved Africans in the Virgin Islands 150 years ago.
  On behalf of my constituents, the people of the Virgin Islands, I 
want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Armey), the Majority Leader, for your kindness and generosity in 
allowing House Resolution 495 to come to the floor today.
  I also want to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation and 
that of my constituents as well to the chairman of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for his support of 
my efforts with respect to this resolution before us. I can truly say 
that without Chairman Hyde's unwavering support for House Resolution 
495, it would not be on the floor today.
  I also want to thank our minority leader, the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Gephardt), and my friend, the ranking Democrat on the Committee on 
the Judiciary, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), for their 
support and invaluable assistance as well.
  Mr. Speaker, the 3rd of July is celebrated in the Virgin Islands as 
Emancipation Day. It is a day when we recognize and remember one of the 
most important and significant events in our history, the emancipation 
from slavery in the territory.
  There are few moments in our history as dramatic and inspiring as 
those that took place in the town of Frederiksted in St. Croix on July 
2nd and 3rd in 1848. It is a story of courage and determination by the 
people of the then Danish West Indies, who risked death in order to 
live as free men and women.
  We are told that at the sound of the ``conchshell,'' slaves from 
across the island of St. Croix converged on Fort Frederik under the 
leadership of Moses ``General Buddhoe'' Gottlieb and threatened to 
destroy the island unless their freedom was granted immediately. In 
response to the reports of the uprising, Danish Governor Peter Von 
Scholten rushed from the town of Christiansted and encouraged by his 
mulatto mistress Anna Heegaard, issued his famous proclamation, ``All 
unfree in the Danish West Indies are from today free.''
  Although the revolt ended with little loss of property or life, its 
key players paid a high price. General Buddhoe was himself arrested and 
exiled, and Governor Von Scholten returned to Denmark, where he was 
tried and found guilty for exceeding his authority and for dereliction 
of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, it is quite fitting that the House of Representatives, 
the People's House as it is known, takes note of this important event 
in our history, because, in doing so, we are reminded of the unwavering 
commitment of all Americans for freedom and for human and civil rights.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues for 
their help and support on this resolution, particularly again the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, and his 
staff. I also want once again to thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Chairman Hyde) and his staff and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers), the ranking Democrat, without whose help tonight would not 
have been possible.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
  (Mr. CONYERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important 150th anniversary. It is 
significant. I cannot remember in my career that we have ever 
celebrated the emancipation of slavery in the Virgin Islands.
  I commend the gentlewoman for her conviction, ability, intelligence 
and beauty.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Congresswoman Donna Christian-Green for 
introducing this legislation that recognizes the 150th anniversary of 
the emancipation of African slaves in what is now the United States 
Virgin Islands.
  On July 3rd 1848 thousands of slaves on the island of St. Croix 
marched into the town of Frederiksted under the leadership of Moses 
Gottlieb and staged a demonstration demanding their freedom and 
threatened to destroy the island by fire unless their freedom was 
granted by 4 p.m. that afternoon.
  When reports of the insurrection reached the Danish Governor of the 
VI Peter von Scholten, 15 miles away in the town of Christiansted, he 
journeyed to Frederiksted where he issued the Emancipation 
Proclamation.
  It is important for us to commemorate the historic significance of 
this 150th anniversary and the significant contributions that the 
descendants of those who were freed have

[[Page H5388]]

made to the United States as citizens since 1917.
  More importantly, however, we as a nation must recognize the 
emancipation of African slaves as part of the process of extending 
civil rights to all individuals in the United States.
  Unfortunatley, the struggle for equality for all Americans still 
continues. Discrimination is still rampant in housing, education, 
employment, the environment and in many other areas in society.
  Despite the uphill battle that we appear to be facing at times, we 
must maintain our unwavering commitment to preserve, protect, and 
defend human rights and freedom.
  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the 
gentleman for those kind remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, as my constituents and I prepare to celebrate the 150th 
anniversary of our emancipation, we hope it will serve as a reminder 
and a reaffirmation, to all of us, of the ideals of freedom and 
equality that this country was founded on.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 495

       Whereas, prior to July 3, 1848, many Africans were held as 
     slaves on the islands of the Danish West Indies, now the 
     United States Virgin Islands;
       Whereas, on July 3, under the leadership of Moses ``General 
     Budhoe'' Gottlieb, the African slaves on the Island of St. 
     Croix responded to the signal of the blowing of conch shells 
     by leaving their plantations to converge on Fort Frederick in 
     the town of Frederiksted;
       Whereas in Frederiksted the African slaves demanded their 
     freedom and threatened to destroy the island by fire unless 
     it was granted by 4 o'clock that afternoon;
       Whereas, confronted by reports of arson and insurrection, 
     the Danish governor, Peter von Scholten, met the African 
     slaves in Frederiksted and declared that ``all unfree in the 
     Danish West Indies are from today free'';
       Whereas the heroes of this rebellion paid a high price, 
     General Budhoe being sent into exile, and Governor von 
     Scholten being convicted in Denmark of dereliction of duty 
     and of exceeding his authority;
       Whereas the American people declared their independence 
     from the British on July 4, 1776; and
       Whereas the courage of these heroes serves to connect 
     Virgin Islanders and all Americans to their past and to 
     reinforce their unwavering commitment to preserve, protect, 
     and defend freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges--
       (1) the American people to recognize the historical 
     significance of the emancipation of African slaves in what is 
     now the United States Virgin Islands; and
       (2) Virgin Islanders and all Americans to maintain their 
     unwavering commitment to preserve, protect, and defend human 
     rights and freedom.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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