[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND 
          COMMENDING ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S EFFORTS TO END SLAVERY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2003

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 36--Encouraging the people of the United States to honor and 
celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and 
commending Abraham Lincoln's efforts to end slavery. To this end, this 
legislation serves both to remind us of the tremendous strides this 
nation has made toward ensuring life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness for all citizens and to recognize Abraham Lincoln, the 
sixteenth President of the United States, for his commitment to these 
ideals.
  On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln took a bold step towards 
eradicating the horrible institution of slavery in this country by 
issuing a preliminary proclamation, which declared ``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.''
  Perhaps the three most significant documents in U.S. history that 
exemplify America's passion for freedom are the Constitution, the Bill 
of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation. Although each has 
maintained its rightful place in the annals of American history, only 
the Bill of Rights and the Constitution have identifiable dates and 
cultural festivities. Each year, the United States celebrates the 
Fourth of July, Constitution Day, and Flag Day, all of which have 
developed into an expression and ceremony of appreciation by the 
American People with special events emphasizing the historical 
importance of these significant documents.
  However, the Emancipation Proclamation, which is particularly 
significant to African Americans, has not until recently received its 
rightful day of national appreciation. With the resurgence of the 
African American community's celebration of Juneteenth, America is 
growing in its awareness and appreciation of this highly meaningful 
document.
  Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, is the name given to emancipation 
day by African-Americans in Texas. On that day in 1865, six months 
after the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, Union Major General 
Gordon Granger read General Order #3 to the people of Galveston. 
General Order #3 stated ``The people of Texas are informed that, in 
accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, 
all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal 
rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and 
the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between 
employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at 
their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they 
will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not 
be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.''
  Large celebrations on June 19 began in 1866 and continued regularly 
into the early 20th century. In many parts of Texas, ex-slaves 
purchased land, or ``emancipation grounds,'' for the Juneteenth 
gathering. One example of this is Emancipation Park in Houston, which 
was purchased in 1872.
  Since this moment in our nation's history, the Juneteenth celebration 
has spread to the neighboring states of Louisiana, Arkansas and 
Oklahoma. It has also appeared in Alabama, Florida, and California as 
African-American Texans migrated.
  Frederick Douglass once noted, ``A [person] who will not labor to 
gain his [or her] rights, is a [person] who would not, if he [or she] 
had them, prize and defend them.'' With this in mind, I want to remind 
Congress of the labor of individuals of African descent who have 
devoted their lives to securing a just and prosperous future for all 
Americans and the duty we have as citizens to make sure their blood, 
sweat, and tears are never forgotten and our rights are preserved. This 
legislation helps to further this sense of obligation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. 
Through your support for this legislation, we are certain to sustain 
this great legacy of justice and equality upon which this great nation 
was founded.

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