Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act

CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT -- (House of Representatives - September 22, 2004)

Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2449) to establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, as amended

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2449 would establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to cooperate with and assist States and national organizations with programs and activities to ensure a suitable national observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and to educate Americans about the significance of the war in our national history.

With the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the Civil War became a war to save the Union and to abolish slavery. The war resulted in the loss of 620,000 lives, the liberation of 4 million slaves, and the ratification of three constitutional amendments that changed the way we define freedom and democracy in this country.

Frederick Douglass moved many free and runaway slaves to enlist in the Union Army and to fight for their freedom when he said, "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, there is no power on Earth can deny that he has earned the right for citizenship in the United States."

Approximately 180,000 African Americans, comprising 163 units, served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and many more served in the Union Navy. Although black soldiers proved themselves as reputable soldiers, discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread.

We as Americans continue to struggle with issues of race, the politics of federalism and heritage. The 150th anniversary of the Civil War would give us an opportunity to reflect collectively on our shared history and our identity as Americans. Many say and many believe that we have a democracy, that we as African Americans, for example, have equal rights. But we must ask what it really means, and even in 2004 we must ask is freedom and equal rights a reality for all Americans.

What we do have, though, is the right to struggle, and the need for struggle is just as important today as it was during the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass was right then and Douglass is right now when he said that "Struggle, struggle, strife and pain are the prerequisites for change, and if there is no struggle, there will be no progress."

The American Civil War is a critical part of our Nation's history and development. The 105th anniversary of the war should remind us that we have come a long way, but there is still much work to be done, and in the words of the philosopher, we must remember that freedom is a hard-won thing. Each generation must win it, and win it again.

The American Civil War was critical to America's development as a nation and a democracy. The 105th anniversary of the war is an appropriate time for us to reflect on its legacy and its impact on our lives.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I will just end by suggesting that the Civil War was the costliest war that this country has ever been engaged in and perhaps one of the most important wars that this country will ever fight. I urge strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.