Emancipation Day

TIMEANDDATE.COM/HOLIDAYS - April 16th is Emancipation Day, which is a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. It will be observed this year on Friday, April 15th in Washington DC (extending TAX DAY to Monday, April 18, 2011). Emancipation Day marks the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln [R-IL].

Background
Formal slavery was legal from 1619 until 1865 in the area that is now the United States. Many slaves were of African origin and many slave owners were of European descent, although some other groups also had slaves. By 1860, there were about four million slaves in the United States. On April 16, 1862, Abraham Lincoln [R-IL], who was the US president at the time , signed the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed more than 3000 slaves in the District of Columbia. However, slavery did not officially end in the rest of the United States until after the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 until 1865.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution [brought forth and fought for by the Republicans] formally ended slavery in the US. It was proposed on January 31, 1865, and ratified by 30 of the then 36 states in the same year. However, it was only ratified in Mississippi in 1995. Slavery and the racial divisions, upon which it was based, have had and continue to have huge implications for individuals and American society as a whole.

Emancipation Day in Washington DC marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act. On January 4, 2005, legislation was signed to make Emancipation Day an official public holiday in the District of Columbia. Elsewhere in the United States, the emancipation of slaves is celebrated in Florida (May 20), Puerto Rico (March 22) and Texas (June 19). [Emphasis added --bc]

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President Lincoln's Press Conference

Last night, February 12th, President Abraham Lincoln held a Press Conference at the Linn & Benton County Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Corvallis, Oregon. It was his birthday. He began the conference with his own remarks and then took questions from the Press (the guests). Due to the seriousness of his message, all present could have heard a pin drop as he spoke. The president contended that the abolition of slavery was indeed the reason for the war between the states. He felt it was biblical, that the country was unable to avoid war and that it was a punishment for the sin of slavery. He reported on the progress of the war and about his choice of disappointing generals to lead the union. One and all could see the great personal toll it took on him over the horrible loss of life as the war wore on. Yet one could see a little colour returning to his gaunt face when he spoke of eventual victories. The President talked about the ugly reception his Emancipation Proclamation received. Some called him a tyrant or worse. The Abolitionists were furious that it did not inclued all slaves. Mr. Lincoln brought out his spectacles to read the brief remarks he'd made at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The gathered press corps could hardly agree with Mr. Lincoln's assessment that his concise words would not long be remembered. Finally, the president explained why, under extreme criticism, he refused to hang the Generals and leaders of the Confederacy in an effort to heal the nation at war's end.

Mr. Steve Holgate of Portland, is the actor who so passionately and truly portrays President Lincoln. A number of guests asked about his next scheduled event. Mr. Holgate will be presenting a longer version of President Lincoln at the Coaster Theater (MAP) in Cannon Beach, Oregon on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. (Whichever way you go to Cannon Beach, you'll want to come home via Newport and Corvallis, unless you want to spend the night. The tunnel on Hwy 26 will be closed during night-time hours due to roadwork.)

For the members of the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee, it was a wonderful pleasure to host Mr. Holgate and his lovely wife, Felicia. From the feedback we've received, our guests were impressed.

The Committee offers its gratitude to all the members of the press (our guests) who contributed to the success of the evening. We thank you for generously supporting the 'buy it now' tables, the silent auction and the oral auction. We hope you enjoyed the evening. Read More......

Feb. 12: President Lincoln's Birthday Celebration

PRESS RELEASE
Lincoln Day Dinner, February 12, Corvallis

If you've never heard him speak, now is your opportunity to come hear President Abraham Lincoln. ∴ What American wouldn't love to have a conversation with our first Republican President? Imagine hearing him talk and then being provided an opportunity to ask about that era and the momentous decisions he made. This year’s keynote speaker at the Linn and Benton Republicans Lincoln Day Celebration is President Abraham Lincoln. Our speaker is an actor, Steve Holgate, from Portland who strongly resembles Lincoln. He gives audiences all over Oregon, throughout the West Coast and overseas a chance to hear Lincoln (in period costume) talk about his years in the White House. Mr. Holgate has been highly praised by a member of the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission saying that "he's the best Lincoln in America."

The evening’s events include no-host wine bar, hors d'eourves and buffet dinner catered by the popular El Sol de Mexico in Corvallis. A sampling of our live and silent auction items includes a BBQ dinner for 40 to 45 people in June 2011, gun training classes, blown glass items by an Oregon artisan, and beautifully created theme baskets with hotel, resort and restaurant certificates. Pinkerton guards will be in attendance for the President's security.

The event will be at the OSU CH2M Hill Alumni Center on Lincoln's birthday, Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Go to www.LincolnDayDinner.net or call Jo Rae Perkins at 541-928-6077 to get all the details and make reservations ASAP for an evening you won't want to miss.

This is a major fundraiser for Benton County - your support is greatly appreciated. Read More......

A Republican President issued the Emancipation Proclamation

"On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Effective at yearend, all slaves in Confederate-controlled territory would be "forever free." ∴ Ill-informed critics of the first Republican President Lincoln fault the Emancipation Proclamation for only freeing slaves in areas not yet under the control of the U.S. government, but -- because of the Democratic Party's resolute defense of slavery -- the federal government had the necessary authority only over so-called "property" of the rebels. ∴ Within two years, the Republican-controlled 38th Congress followed up this great advance by enacting the 13th Amendment, banning slavery throughout the nation."

Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is his acclaimed history of the GOP, He is also the author of the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. His Grand Old Partisan website celebrates more than fifteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Visit www.grandoldpartisan.com for more information. Read More......