The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-10-17
speech of President Johnson
COLORED SOLDIERS.
WAsHINGToN, Tuesday Oct 10, 90


troops to-day that this was their country
as we'll as the white mans; that mere
was vet the vitall7 important SUBJECT
before them of determining their capabliI-
ties to govern themselves Dy tnose
familiar with the Presidents views on
the suffrage question, this speech IS sala
TO be only public declaration OF what he ne
ha. constantly maintained; that worth
and not color should constitute the con-
di,iop of citizenship. The First District
of Columbia Colored Regiment marched
from their quarters at Campbell HosPi'a'
70 the Executive Mansion, where they
were reviewed by the President, VINO
addressed them as follows
My FRIENDS: Ny objectin presenting
myself before you on this occasion Is
simply to thank you, members OF one OF
the cclored regiments which has Deen 10
tbe service of the country to SUSTAIN and
carrr it's banner and It's laws triumph,
autly in every part of this broad land |
repeat that l appear before you on the
present occasion merely to tender you
nv thanks for the compliment you have
Maid me on your return home TO again be
associated with your friends apG relations
and those you hold most sacred and dear.
I repeat. | have but little to say, It being
unusual IN this Government aud IN most
other Governments 20 have c0!orcd troops
engaged in their service. You have gone
forth. as events have shown, and served
with patience and endurance IN the cause
of YOUR country. This is your country
az we'll as anybody clse's country
CCheers.l This is the country in which
You expect TO live and ia which yoo
should expect TO do something by your
example in civil life. as you have dole
In the field. This cOuOtry IS founded
upon the principles Of equality, and at
the same time the standard by which
persons are to be estimated is according
10 their merit and their worth aud you
have observed, DO doubt that for him
who does his duty faithfully and honestly
there is always a just public Judgment
that will always appreciate and measure
oot to him lis proper reward. kno"
that there is much well calculated in this
Government, and since the late Rebellion
commenced, to excite the white against
the black ADD the black against the white
man, there are things YOU should all IN.
derstand and at the same time prepare
yourself for what is before you. Upon
the return of peace and the surrender OF
the enemieS of the country, 1t should be
the duty OF every patriot and every one
who calls himself a Christian to remcm-
Der that With the termination OF the war
his rescntments should cease, that angry
feelings should subside, and that every
man should become calm and tranquil,
and be prepared 70. what IS before h'm.
This is another part Of your mission.
You have been engaged in the efforts to
sustain your country in the past but the
future is more important 10 you ,han the
period 10 which you have just been en-.
gagged. Que great question has been
settled 10 this Government, and that Is
the question of,Siavery. The restitution
of Slavery made war against the Uulted
States, and the United States has lifted
its strong arms in vindcatlon of the Gov
ernment aud Of free government, and on
lifting that arm aud appealing to the God
Of battles, it has been decided that the
institution Of Slavery must 90 down.
CCheers This has been done, and the
Goddess of Liberty, in bearing witness
over many Of our battle fields since the
struggle commenced has made her loftiest
flight, and proclaimed that true liberty
has been established upon a more perma
nent aud enduring basis than heretofore
IApplause.] But this is not all and as
YOU have paid me the compliment to call
upon me, [ shall take the privilege OF
SAYING one or two words as am before
you. | repeat tina: it is not all. Now
when the sword is returned to the sca6.
bard, when your arms are reversed and
the olive branch Of peace Is extended as
Remarked before. resentment and revenge
should subside Then what is to follow ?
You do uuder5taed, no doubt, and if you
DO not, you cannot understand too soon,
that simple liberty does not mean the
privilege of going into the battle field, or
into the service of the country as SOL
der. 1t means other things as well ODd
now when you have laid down your arms
there are other objects of equal import.
ance before you. Now that the Govern
ment has triumphsntly passed through
this mighty Rebellion, after the most
gigantic battles the world ever saw, the
problem is before you, and it is best that
YOU should understand 1t; aud therefore
l speak simply and plainly. VIII you
now, when you have returned fom the
army of the United States aod taken thC
the position of ;he citizen when you have
returned to the avocationS OF peace, VII