Recognizing the historic abolitionist events surrounding the Pearl, and honoring its legacy in American history.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 336
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-05T14:01:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 336) aims to formally recognize the historic events of the 1848 Pearl escape attempt—the largest known escape by enslaved people in U.S. history—and to honor the individuals involved in advancing freedom from slavery. It highlights the role of these events in the history of the District of Columbia (D.C.) and the broader American story of abolitionism.
Key Provisions
- Historical Context: The resolution details the failed escape on April 16, 1848, when 77 enslaved men, women, and children from D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia, boarded the schooner Pearl to flee down the Potomac River toward freedom.
- Key Figures and Support: It acknowledges free Black organizers Paul Jennings (formerly enslaved by President James Madison) and Paul Edmonson; White abolitionist William Chaplin; ship captain Daniel Drayton; and financier Gerrit Smith. The escape was planned with assistance from these individuals.
- Events and Aftermath: The Pearl was intercepted by a posse near Point Lookout, Maryland, on April 17, 1848, leading to the recapture of the escapees. This sparked the Washington Riot of 1848, where a mob attacked White abolitionists and free Blacks in D.C. Many escapees were sold to traders in New Orleans, Louisiana, though two were later freed through efforts by Henry Ward Beecher's church in Brooklyn, New York.
- Legal Consequences: Drayton and two crew members were arrested, tried (with representation by Congressman Horace Mann), and imprisoned for four years before receiving a pardon from President Millard Fillmore, recommended by Senator Charles Sumner.
- Legacy Recognition: The resolution states that the escape inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and resolves that the House of Representatives honors all participants in these events for their contributions to the fight against slavery.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It serves as a symbolic statement of historical recognition rather than enacting new policy or legal requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens and Education: It promotes public awareness of abolitionist history, potentially encouraging educational programs, commemorations, or historical markers in D.C., benefiting residents, students, and visitors by preserving this aspect of American heritage.
- On Government Agencies: The resolution was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which may lead to minor administrative actions like archiving or publicizing the recognition, but it has no direct operational effects on agencies.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the resolution focuses on domestic U.S. history.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Historical Figures and Descendants: Honors enslaved escapees, free Blacks like Paul Jennings and Paul Edmonson, and abolitionists like Daniel Drayton, Gerrit Smith, and William Chaplin; may resonate with their descendants or related historical societies.
- D.C. Residents and Communities: Emphasizes D.C.'s role in abolitionism, affecting local African American communities, historians, and cultural institutions.
- Broader Public and Advocacy Groups: Influences educators, civil rights organizations, and those studying slavery's history, potentially fostering discussions on racial justice.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No enforceable legal effects, but it underscores the historical context of slavery in D.C., which was abolished there in 1862 under the Compensated Emancipation Act—a precursor to the 13th Amendment ending slavery nationwide.
- Constitutional: Highlights tensions between individual freedoms (protected under the Constitution) and the institution of slavery, which the document originally tolerated; it indirectly celebrates the abolitionist movement's role in advancing constitutional ideals of liberty and equality.
- Political: As a bipartisan recognition (introduced by Rep. Norton), it signals congressional acknowledgment of anti-slavery heroism amid ongoing national dialogues on racial history and reconciliation, potentially influencing future resolutions or memorials without partisan controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-04-17: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-17: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the historic abolitionist events surrounding the Pearl, and honoring its legacy in American history. — issued 2025-04-17 — PDF (3 pages)