The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-10-27
Important speech Of President
Johnson 10 q C0l0red Regiment.

mcnt called on Prcsid mt Johnson,
who made it the occasion of the fol-
loving heightened, patriotic speech:
Nh fricpds My object in present .
ing myself before you on this occasion
Is simply to thank you, members of 1
one of the colored regiments which
have been in the service OF the coun-
try, to sustain and carry it's banners
and its laws triumphautlv in every
part of this broad land ! repeat Chat
/ appear before Won on the present
occasion merely to tender You my
thanks for the compliment you have
paid me ON my return home, TO again
be associatcd with your friends and
your relations, and those you hold
most sacred and dear. | repeat, |
have but little to say. 1t being I'M
usual lin this government and IN most
OF tine other governments to have eo'-
ored troops engaged in their service,
you have gone forth, as eycnts have
shown, and served with patience aud
endurance in the cause OF : ut coul-
try. Tins is your country as vell as
any body clses country. Cheers.
This is the country in which you cx-
pect to live, and in which you should
expect to do something by your eX-
ample i'm civil life as You have done
in the field. This country is founded
upon the principles of equality and
Mt the same time the standard by
which persons are to be estimated is
according to their merit and their
worth; and YOU have observed, no
doubt, that for him who does his duty
faithfully and honestly, there is always
u Just public Judgment that viii APP
preciate and measure ont to- him his
proper reward | know that there is
much well calculated in the govern
mcnt, and since the late rebellion
commenced, to excite the white
against the black and the black
against the white man There are
things You should all understand, and
at the same time prepare yourself for
what is before you. Upon the retWn
OF peace aud the surrender Of TIE
enemies Of the country, it should be
the duty of every patriot and every
one who calls himself Christian, t.
remember that with the termination
Of the war his rescutments shoult
cease, that angry feelings should sub
side, and that every man should be
come calm and be prepared for what
is before him. Tins is another par
Of your mission. You have been en-
gagged in the effort to sustain You
country in the past, but the future il
more important to you than tn
period in which you have Just beer
engaged One great question ha
been settled in this governments nm,
that is the question Of slavery. Th
| institution of slavery made war agains
the United States, and the Unite,
States has lifted its strong arm in vim
s dication Of the 9Oyernment and o
4 free government; and IN lifting tina
q arm, and appealing to the God d
| battles, it has been decided that tin
institution of slavery must 90 down
Cheers This has been done; an
! the Goddess of liberty, in beariu
I witness over many OF orr battlefield
$ since the struggle commenced, ha
made the loftiest fight, ana pre-
claimed that true liberty has bee
o established upon more permaneu
a and enduring basis than heretofore
: Applause Bat this is not all; aE
Il rs you have paid me the comphner
3 to call upon me, | shall take the priv
n lege OF saying one or two words, rs
n am before you. | repeat that 1t is nc
/ all Now, when the sword is retune
l. to It's scabbard, when your arms NJ
S reversed, and the olive branch
b peace is extended, as | remarked b.
fore, resentment and revenge shoul
s snbs, de Then what is to follow
Ii You do understand, no doubt, and
e YOU do not, YOU cannot understan
S too soon, that sln.ple liberty does NJ
IS mean privilege Of golns INTO Inc ha
d tle-icld, or into the ser, ICE o; u
l. country as soldier II means oth'
things as well; and now, when 80
d have laid down your arms, there m
e other objects of equal importance b.
Is fore you. Now that the governmei
t has tuumphantly passed through TIN
rebellion, after the most gigantic ba
d ties the world ever saw, the probleI
s. is before you, and it is best that go
If should understand il; therefore,
5 speak simply and plainly. VIII yo
J. now, when you have returned fro
z the army of the United States, an
y take tue position of the citizens; who
d you have returned TO the association
% Of peace, will you give evidence to Il
i world that You are capable and con
(; pe,ent to govern yourselves? That
Re what you Will have TO do. LiDer
S Is not a mere idea; mere vAgar
IS 1t Is an idea or it is reality; an
T. when you come to examine this que
" ton of liberty you will not be nj
t. taken in mere idea for the reaht
10 1t does not consist in idleness. Ill
N erty does not consist in being WORT
less. Liberty does not consist in d
IS all things us we please, and there ca
It be no liberty without law. In Il 90
IS eminent of freedom and of hber
,r there must be law, aud there must J
Ne obedience and submission to the la'
j without regard to color, Cheers
ic Liberty ,and may | not call you n
l. countrymen) consists in the glOrlo
D. privilege of work. of pursuing tho o
u binary pyocations OF peace with j
r; dustry and economy; and that boii
H a