The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-05-26
President johnson and the Negroes.


The following is complete report Of
the speech recently made by President
Johnson 10 delegation Of negroes, who
called upon him a few days since. Tbs
radicals object to the speech, upon the
ground that tie president was signifcant-
/ y silent upon the question of negro sutf-
rage and indicated disposition to favor
scheme Of colonization
| President johnson said it was known
thqt he was born and raised in slave
state. and had owned slaves. Yet he had
never sold ore. and they had all gone free
! There was difference in the roaponsibiii-
ty which persons residing in slave states
had to take on the subject of emancipa-
ton from those who reside out Of them
! 1t was very eas7 for men who lived 6e
vond their borders to get up sympathy
and talk about the condition OF coIored
persons, when they kGew nothing about
it. Their grea! sympathy was not reduc
ed TO practice, 1t was known that there
were men il The south, notwithstanding
the two classes once occupied the posi-
lions Of master aud servant, who felt a
deep interest in their welfare, and who
did muc! TO amelioTate the condition Of
the colored man. lie repeated it would
be unnecessary for lin TO make speech
on the subject Of emancipation for which
| he had met with taGuts, and ffowns, aud
cibcs, and incurred all tie dangers OF prop.
erty. life and limb. lie claimed no merit
for this, because lie was only carrying
out the principle be always maintained,
namely, that man could not hold property
in man: and be was the first who stood
in a slave community ard announced the
fact that the slaves Of the state Of Iennes
see had as much right 10 be free as those
wh- claimed them as property. When
the tvrant's rod is bent aud the yoke bro
ken, the passing from one extreme to the
other, from bondage 20 freedom, IS diff
cult, and in this transition state some
think they have nothing to DO but fall
back OF the government for support, in
order that they may be taken care Of in
iGIeness and dobauchery. There WAS one
idea which those whom ho addressed
ought to inculcate, namely, that freedom
simply means liberty TO work and enjoy
the products of a mans own toll, and how
much be may put into his own stomach
and on his back. lie meant this in the
mos: extensive sense. G6ntler Rn in con
g'ess and tie people Of the north and
south talk about Brigham Young and de-
hauchery of various kinds existing among
the Mormons, but it WIS known that four
millions Of people within the limits of the
south have always been in open and no.
tofious concubinsge.
The correction Of these things is reces-
sary fer commencing reform in social
condition, and in this there must be the
force Of example. He wonli do all in bis
power 10 secure their protection and amel-
iora:e their condition. lIa trusted in
God that the time may cone when all the
colored people would be gathered together
in one country best adapted 70 their con-
ditioD, if it should appear they conld not
get along together with the whites. lie
expressed hopes that the efforts for their
social and moral improvement would be
successful, and in this he promised his 60
ODprafia0