The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-13

ID FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1855.
PRESIDENT JOHNS0N'S SPEECH
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911ade TO THE DISTRICT OF ooLuhBA .
zJIDnWUd IT, ssbuiississT nt5 81.
REGIMENT OF COLORED TROOPS

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ssI.ds TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IA. ] |
REGIMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.
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On Tuesday, in Washington, a public
reception was given to the First Regi-
ment of United States Colored troops,
of hesDistrict of Columbia. We have
already given an outline of the Presi-
dents speech on the occasion. Early in
the morning the regiment was marched
| into Washington from Campbell Hospi-
tai, and proceeded at once to the Execu-
tive Mansion, arriving about eleven
o'clock. They were welcomed by the
President in the following speech,
L. sf SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON d,
tIo NM Friends My object in presenting
myself before you on this occasion Is
| simply to thank you, members of one of
| the colored regiments which has been
in the service Of the country to sustain
and carry its banner and its laws tri-
| umphantly in every part of this broad
land. repeat that appear before you
on the presen. occasion merely to tender
you my thanks for the compliment you
have paid me on your return home, to
again be associated with your friends
and relations, and those you hold most
scored and dear. / repeat | have but
little to say, itbeing unusual in this gov
eminent, and in most of the other gov
ernments, to have cOlored Troops engaged
in their cauue. You have gone forth, as
events have shown, and served with
patience and endurance in the cause
of your country. This Is your country
as well as anybody elses country,
(Cheers.) This is the country in which
| YOU expect to live, and in which you
should expect to do something by your
? example in civil life, as you have done
in the field. This country is founded
upon the principles of equality-and i
| the same time the standard by which
persons are to be estimated is according
to their merit and their worth. Ant
I | YOU have observed no doubt, that TO
him who does his duty faithfully ant
honestly, there Is always a just public
Judgment that will appreciate and meas
ure out to him his proper reward
I know that there is much well calcu
lated in this Government, and since the
| late rebellion commenced, to excite tht
: white against the black, and the blacl
against the white man. These are thing
i that you should all understand, and a
the same time prepare yourselves TO
i what is before you. Upon the return G
d peace and the surrender of the enemie
of your country, it should be the dut
st of every patriot and everyone who cal
| himself Christian to remember thu
with the termination of the war his r.
sentiments should cease--that angry fee
incs should subside, and that every ma
Should become calm and tranquil, an
r, HE prepared for what is before him.
II This is another part of your mission
H. You have been engaged in the effort
IN, sustain your country in the past, but tn
flfnre is more importantto you than Il,
period in whichyou have just been ef
Gagged. One gpat question has bee
settled in this government, and that
the question of slavery. The institutlo
of slavery made war upon the Unlte
S. States, and the United States has LITE
its strong arms in vindication OF tn
as (Jovernment and of free government
10 and in lifting that arm and appealing
IL the God of battles, it has been decide
Ss that the institution of slavery must
30 down. TCheers.] This has been done
ey and the Goddessof Liberty, in bearln
~ witness over maly of our battle-helo
Il since the struggle commenced, has mad
her loftiest flight and proclaimed tbs
true liberty has been established upon
lmore permaneni and enduring bas
than heretofore. IApplause. But TN
J. | is not all and asyou have paid me tn
"a compliment to cal upon me, shall tax
q The privilege of saying one or two wore
W as am before ydI. / repeat that IL
not all.
= Now, when the sword is returned
its scabbard, when your arms are r.
j. versed, and when the olive branch
~ peace is extended as | remarked befor
resentment and revenge should subsld
- Then what is to follow? You unde
: | stand, no doubt, and if you do not yo
.a cannot understand too soon, that simp
liberty does not mean the privilege
going into the battle field, or INTO u
ia service of the country as q soldier
Mt means other things as well anu NO
1 FIN ere are other objects of equal impo
= tn,1ce before YOU. now that the Cover
?, n,e,1t has trinmphantly passed throut
this mighty rebellion, after the me
aa gioautic battles the world ever saw. :
! The problem is before you, and it
hest that YOU should understand 1t al
81 T therefore, speak simply and plain
Viii you now, when you have retlr
ilar from the army of the United states, a
,snt taken the position of the citizen-.wh
You have returned to the avocations
peace-wiII you give evidence to I
on world that you are capable and CONF
tent TO govern yourselves? This is wi
me me YOU will have to do. ~
zen Liberty is not mere idea, mere
ok. gary. it is an idea, or tbs reality; al
hoe when you come to examine this gu
u ~ 81 liberty, YOU should not be m
taken in mere idea for the reality,
Jnes not consist in idleness; liberty d
not consistin being worthless; libertyd
NOT consist in doing in all things as
nlease: and there can be no liberty WI
iIy pnf law. In a government OF freed
' onS III i;herty there must be law, and tn
--i' Innst be obedience and submission
-,lH ~ law without regard to coloi
% Lt Sli You my countrymen P--iibe
= Set,nsists in the glorious prlvlii
!. e C. fTrteedom-eonsists in the glori
81 q Oh OIL ;lege Of work-of pursuing
oroinsn with industry, and with
l. ennn1n r ~ that being done, all u
wv h3hs a~e been Industrious and
En- VINO ;nai are permitted to appropr
" anu anu e' ffjF3hHeers. This is one ofthe g