did you know…
I am wrapping up “Big Enough To Be Inconsistent” today and on page 95 there was this little nugget:
“The first state that Lincoln tried to enlist in his program of gradual emancipation was Delaware, which had so few slaves – a total of 1800 in 1860 – that it was hard to imagine strong opposition to their being purchased and freed by the federal government (for $500 per slave). In late November 1861, Lincoln went so far as to draft a bill to be presented to the Delaware state legislature providing for gradual, federally compensated emancipation. Under its propopsed terms, slavery would not be totally eliminated until 1893. But even in a state that had no significant economic stake in slavery, the fear that emanicpated blacks would claim equal rights caused a bill allong the lines that Lincoln recommended to be narrowly defeated.”
go figure, some things never change I guess in this state…
This has been another installment of “Great Moments in Delaware History”
I never knew that. Thanks.
Didn’t Joe Biden tell you?
Funny little history tidbit. I discovered that in 1879 a youngish Delaware State Senator named Thurman Adams attempted to introduce the “Emancipation Retraction” as an amendment to the Constitution…
I believe it wasn’t until 1 or 2 years after the Civil war that Delaware finally agreed to free it’s slaves.
And yet there is still some dispute about this south of Duck Creek
“This has been another installment of “Great Moments in Delaware History”
No, the great moment came in 1905 when my mom’s relative passed the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hunn_%28governor%29
Jason or LG I think my comment did not come through…. assistance would be appreciated. Thanks…
There was actually an “Office of Compensated Emancipation” in Sussex (Georgetown, I think) during 1864.
Also, Delaware came within one vote in the Senate (Thurman Adams?) of ending slavery in 1848.
I used to have records of a few slaves from the 19th century. Jacob Lingo, fought at Petersburg but was actually sold for an enlistment of $300 from his master and then had to pay it back following discharge in the South West.
I think that the one vote Steve mentioned and that prevented the end of slavery in 1848 was from Governor Ross or his delegate from Seaford?… but I am not entirely sure.