Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-10-20
President Johnson's Address to the COL
ored Soldiers.

A correspondent of the Boston Journal
gives the following account of an address
made by President johnson, on the 10th
inst, to the colored soldiers of the District
of Columbia
The LIST District of Columbia Colored Regi-
ment, which were hlssed and hooted on their
first parade in this city in 1862, received quite
an ovation during their parade this morning,
being enthusiastically applauded both by per-
sons Of their own color and by the large con-
course Of whites, on their way to the White House
This regiment participated IN eleven pitched
battles and a number of skirmishes, and its tat
tered flag bore indisputable evidence Of the no
bic daring of its men in defense of their own
freedom and of the integrity and perpetuity of
the Union. Upon their arrival at the White
House, President johnson appeared and address
ed them in a speech of half an hour. He thank
ed them for the compliment paid by the visit,
and told them that the country for which they
had so nobly fought belonged to them as much
as TO any one else, and as they would soon re-
turn citizens to the walks Of civilized life he
endeavored TO impress upon their minds what
appeared TO him the duties in which they should
engage, and the rules of conduct which should
regulate their life Many, he said, talk about
equality before the law, and all that, but when
| one man is more meritorious than another,
what becomes Of this equality? The most mer-
itorious is superior. He then endeavored to
inculcate upon them the paramount duty of de-
veloping and improving their talents and all the
morsl qualities, assuring them that just public
Judgment would mete to all a reward Of merit
without regard to coler. This he did again and
again in the course of his speech. This. he said
is government founded not only upon freedom,
but equality, without reference to color. But
/ liberty did not mean freedom 10 idleEess, tc
worthlessness or TO loahng, but to work and en-
joyment Of the profit of the products of our own
labor. He shrewdly and somewhat carefully
avoided all direct reference to the great question
Of manhood and suffrage now agitatIng the ma
ton. but told them that the country was under
the operation of great and exciting experiment
TO determine whether the whites and blacks
with the respective prejudices of the two races
could be incorporated or a>similsted in one hsr-
monious unit as a common body polite, oil
whether it would be necessary for the two tC
separate. He hoped that separation would moi
be necessary, but told them that 1t Was with
themselves to determine the problem. They mus
by their own conduct upon returning TO th'
pursuits of peace, by abandoning all habits o
iileness and immortality, by steady application
" Aaou4, anu " ueNeAupAcut "a NheiA 4h1eAieSA'
ual and moral qualities, prove themselves al
meritorius citizens soldiers, as capable of self
government, and worthy of being entrusted with
the higher duties of citizenshsp. He concluded
by sgsi4 thanking them for the compliment O
the writ, saying that he had talked plainly, bu
not with the object in any sense of woundine
even their most delicate sepsbilities, but with
purpose Of melting and encouraging them to
course of conduct that would elevate them in TIT
judgment of the world.
During the delivery of the speech there was NJ
enthusiasm manifested by the soldiers or theii
colored friends. All the applause emanated from
the whites who were present. One incident at
trscted our attention; When the President re
marked that liberty consisted in freedom to worl
and to enjoy the profits Of ones labor, a sergeant
among the colored soldiers Immediately in hi
front exclaimed: /" Thank God. it means thai
much -