Letter from John Birney, New York, [New York], to a member of Congress, 1865 Dec[ember] 26th

Item Information

Title:
Letter from John Birney, New York, [New York], to a member of Congress, 1865 Dec[ember] 26th
Description:
John Birney, the supposed author of this copy of a letter to an unnamed member of Congress, writes this "in reference to the proposed amendment of the Constitution, enfranchising the coloured men." He then discusses post-war Reconstruction and his belief that no Southern state will be readmitted to the Union "unless they have fully complied with the terms laid down by the President & formally decided by the President & the two Houses." He proposes the constituional amendment to enfranchise African-American men "in the course of twenty five years", repeating his views that the political parties should "cordially cooperate as this is a great patriotic work", and suggesting a "general amnesty to the ex-rebels" to help gain support for the amendment. He also suggests expanding the Freedmen's Bureau to help aid the freedmen, stating that its officers "should be carefully selected on account of their patriotism & faithfulness & ability."
Author:
Birney, John
Date:
December 26, 1865
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
United States. 13th Amendment
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Freedmen--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Freed persons--United States
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Social reformers--United States
United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands
Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875
Extent:
1 v. (11 p.) ; 21 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2v23xz37h
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
New York, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Identifier:
5109514
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.34, p.111A
Barcode:
39999085427019