KING'S CIVIL WAR INSIGHTS

King's autobiography attests to the fact that he was extremely interested in politics and history of the Civil War.  His emotions regarding the war were a product of his strong moral character and the affectionate ties he had with the Phares family in Louisiana and Mississippi.  He returned to Louisiana in 1855 to visit Dr. David Phares (uncle of his wife Mary), and maintained a correspondance with him until Phares death in 1892.

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln who was a northerner was elected President and war was declared between the north and south in 1861. Initially neither Confederation or Union were fighting for the liberty:

1. southern (slave) states created a Confederation and succeeded from the United States to defend their right to carry their slaves everywhere
2. northern states were fighting to preserve the Union of the country; the Union was losing the war until 1863
   • until 1863 the Union did not accept black volunteers to join Union troops
   • when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which essentially outlawed slavery in the United States, the north began to win the war

During this period King noted that fewer fugitives settled in Buxton after the start of war in 1861, as the Fugitive Act was no longer enforced in the Union states. King wrote in his autobiography:

"Liberty had been proclaimed to the captive, the oppressed had been set free. Wherever the northern army went, freedom followed. Negroes were set free and enrolled in the northern army."

In 1863, King called a public meeting in Buxton to discuss the Emancipation Proclamation which allowed black men the freedom to fight for their own liberty.

1. 40 men volunteered immediately to enlist in the black Union regiments
2. Solomon (who was purchased as a child so he wouldn't be separated from his mother), became a recruitment officer in Detroit

Life in Buxton continued in peace and prosperity through the war in the U.S., with prayers for a swift victory, safe returns, and dreams of reuniting families who had been left behind.

The American Freedman's Enquiry Commission was created to investigate into the condition of the former slaves who had found asylum in Canada.  King invited the Commission to visit Elgin Settlement and see for themselves how people who were stripped from everything but life had become self-supporting, contributing members of society.  The Commission was most impressed with the progress that had been made in the Elgin Settlement.

The report produced by this commission was used in the congressional debate for the acceptance of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States giving black men the right to vote and the guarantee for due process of law.