The Portland daily press., 1863-02-18
MISCELLANY.

New YEARS DAY AT FREMONT TEMPLE
In a speech at the Cooper Institute, New
York, on the 9th instant, Frederic Douglass
gave description Of the reception of the Pres
ident's proclamation by the colored people of
Boston, well worth preserving for its singular
truth to nature. One laughs at the strange
antics Of these poor, overjoyed creatures but
there Is matter here for tears as well as langh-
ter:
/ feel that we are living in glorious time.
felt SO on the first of January. aud have been
feeling so ever since; feel taller, whittier, and
have combed my hair with less difficulty
lCheers and laughter.) You had grand time
in New York, and we had grand time in Bos-
ton. We had two machines running-at Mu-
sic Hall and fremont Temple-more than
three thousand at each You want to know
what the colored people think. L will tell you
how joyfuIly they received the proclamation of
Abraham Lincoln. We were not all colored
either; but we all seemed TO be about of one
color on that day. We met in good spirits at
ten O'Clock, expecting before the adjournment
TO have the proclamation. We waited on each
speaker, keeping our eye on the door. No
proclamation. The president said we would
meet again at two, when We had no doubt we
should read the proclamation. We met again,
but no proclamation. We did not know wheth-
er TO shout or to hold our peace: but we ad-
journed again, with the understanding thu il
was on the wires, and we should certainly get
1t in the evening. But no proclamation came
We went on until eleven O'Clock and l said,
I'VE won't go home till morning."
By and by Judge Russell obtained a slip
containing the proclamation. | never saw
such JOY before. Men, women, young and old,
were up; hats and bonnets were in the air,
and we gave three cheers for Abraham Lin
con and three cheers for about every body
else. Some prayed and some sung and final
ly we adjourned from that place to meet in
the Rev. Mr.. Grimes church, that good old
soul, llaughter and we continued the greeting
there till three O'Clock There was shouting,
Glory Hallelujah," "Old John Brown"
Marching On, aud "Blow Ye the Trumpet
Blow till We got up such state of enthusi-
asm that almost anything seemed to be witty.
There was one black man who stood in cor
ner, and thought never saw blacker man,
and think never saw whittier teeth. Occa-
sionally he would bound up like Ash out of
water, and as he was standing in dark place,
you could see nothing going up but little
white streak. loud laughterl About the
last he said he must speak, and l will make
you his speech. 1t was all in place. We were
up TO the point when everything was in order
Brethren said he, Il was born in North
Carolina, where my brother Douglass was
born, thank Godr didn't happen to be born
there, but could not for the life of me inter-
rupt him. Said he, i was born there, and was
born and held slave there. thank Cod
tLaughter.) / grew up from childhood to
manhood, there, thank Godr And the audi
ence shouted. And said he: When got to
be grown up TO mans estate wanted to mar
~ a wife. thank Cod Laughter. And said
he: counted no less than sixteen women,
thank Godv Great laughter.) And said
he: The woman | married is here tonight,
thank God! We all rose up to see this little
woman. and she was told TO get up. and we
looked al her, and she was nothing extraordi-
nary, tlaughterl but still it was all in place
The whole OF this black congregation, for il
was mainly black-said they were ready to Of
fer their services at any moment this govern
ment should call for them. And want to as
sure you, and the Government, and everybody
that we are ready, and would only ask to be
called into this service. What glorious day
when slavery shall be no more in this country,
when we have blotted out this system OF
wrong, and made this United States In fact
and in truth what it is in theory-The Land
of the Free and the Home of the Brave
loud spplause.)